Samoa made headlines in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship by securing a significant 2-0 victory over Tonga in Suva, marking their second consecutive win in the tournament. This result solidifies Samoa’s lead in Group A and brings them closer to qualifying for the semi-finals.
The match kicked off with Samoa quickly establishing their dominance, showcasing impressive ball control and effectively utilizing their wingers to disrupt Tonga’s defense. The first breakthrough came from Taimane Devoux, who took advantage of a miscalculated catch by the Tongan goalkeeper after a well-placed free kick by Leah Atuaia.
This goal set the pace for the remainder of the match as Samoa continued to apply pressure. In the second half, they maintained their offensive momentum, with Captain Lynn Aiono Sagiao and Jayde Sagapolutele playing pivotal roles. Sagiao ultimately added to their tally with a powerful shot near the penalty area, increasing their lead to two goals.
Tonga, missing key player Tyra Bagiante due to injury, had difficulty mounting effective counterattacks and often found themselves on the defensive. Although they created a few scoring opportunities, they were unable to convert these chances into goals.
With this victory, Samoa has secured their place in the semi-finals. Conversely, Tonga faces a challenging situation ahead, as they need to win their next match against the Cook Islands to keep their hopes of advancing alive.