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VIDEO: UNDER-17 SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT OPENS IN THE TERRITORY

American Samoa had their first games for this year’s OFC Under-17 Soccer Championship tournament yesterday afternoon at the Pago Pago Soccer Stadium. American Samoa (Group 2) is hosting the Oceania qualifiers along with Samoa, Group 1. Winner of the tournament will play in the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015.

 

Yesterday the first game of Group 2 had American Samoa facing off with Vanuatu.

 

Playing well during the first half of their game yesterday, the American Samoa team trailed only 3-0 going into the second half. Not too long into the second half, Vanuatu seemed to score “at will” with Sylvain Worworbu leading the way.

 

Worworbu not only scored their first goal 11 minutes into the game, he scored three more times in the second half (61, 70 and 83 minute mark). Vanuatu had a host of players scoring that ended in a 13- 0 defeat for American Samoa.

 

Samoa News was not able to retrieve the score of the second game — between Solomon Islands and Tonga — as of press-time. The next games in Group 2 are tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 15.

 

Vanuatu, with a decisive win under its belt will face Tonga (1:00 p.m.) and American Samoa goes up against Tahiti at 3:30 p.m. at Pago Pago Soccer Stadium.

 

In Group 1 — in Samoa — on the first day of play (Samoa is 25 hours ahead of American Samoa time), Papua New Guinea downed Cook Islands by a score of 3-0. Papua New Guinea players Brendon Kambula put in the first goal at the 13 minute mark, while teammates Martin Tokwakwasi (75 minute mark) and Freddy Tupani (90 minute mark) each scored one to put the game out of reach against the Cook Islanders.

 

Oceania Under-17 defending champion Team New Zealand overpowered Fiji, as they beat the Fijians 6-0. New Zealand’s James McGarry (12 and 33 minute marks) and Logan Rogerson (17 and 55 minute marks) each had two goals as teammates Benjamin Mata (69 minute mark) and Connor Probert (90 minute) each added one.

 

Samoa News will continue to bring the latest updates of the 2015 OFC Under-17 Soccer Championship tournament being played here in American Samoa and Samoa from January 13- 27.

 

The FFAS continues to invite the public and all of the different communities in the territory to come out and support their teams, with all games being played at the Pago Pago Soccer Stadium.

 

More photos in slideshow.

 

Group 1: (Samoa)

 

Team            GP            W            T            L            G            Pts

 

New Zealand            1            1            0            0            6:0            3

 

Papua New Guinea            1            1            0            0            3:0            3

 

New Caledonia            1            1            0            0            2:0            3

 

Samoa            1            0            0            1            0:2            0

 

Cook Islands            1            0            0            1            0:3            0

 

Fiji            1            0            0            1            0:6            0

 

Group 2: (American Samoa)

 

Team            GP            W            T            L            G            Pts

 

Vanuatu            1            1            0            0            13:0            3

 

Solomon Islands            0            0            0            0            0            0

 

Tonga            0            0            0            0            0            0           

 

Tahiti            0            0            0            0            0            0

 

Am. Samoa            1            0            0            1            0:13            0