24 Nov 2011

Sport: Historic win for American Samoa

7:41 am on 24 November 2011

American Samoa made history as they beat Tonga 2-1 to earn their first ever Football World Cup qualifying win in Apia on Tuesday local time.

In three previous campaigns, the US territory had conceded 129 goals and scored just twice but they doubled that tally through strikes from Ramin Ott and Shalom Luani.

Coach Thomas Rongen, who is a former US Under 20s and MLS head coach, says the result is massive for American Samoa's history.

Meanwhile the hosts also made a winning start, edging Cook Islands 3-2 in dramatic fashion.

Pati Bell nabbed the winner with one of the final kicks of the game to send the home fans wild.