Samoa kickSamoa kicked off their OFC U-16 Women’s Championship campaign in commanding fashion with a 10-0 victory over the Cook Islands, sending a strong message to the rest of the tournament. The match, held at HFC Bank Stadium in Fiji, saw Samoa take an early lead in the third minute through Kealia Nansen, who calmly finished a cross from the right flank. This set the tone for a match dominated by Samoa’s clinical attacking play, as Jayde Sagapolutele netted twice within the first 14 minutes, and Holly Leapai curled in a well-placed shot in the 18th minute to make it 4-0.
Samoa continued to pile on the pressure in the second half, with Nansen completing her hat trick in the 48th minute. The Samoan captain, Lynn Aiono Sagiao, also made her mark by scoring twice in the final 20 minutes, sealing an emphatic victory. While the Cook Islands managed their first real attempt on goal in the 55th minute, Samoa’s defense remained solid, effectively shutting down any chance of a comeback. Head coach Juan Chang's side executed their game plan to perfection, showcasing their depth and cohesion, a stark contrast to their pre-tournament status as the last team to qualify.
The defeat was a significant blow to the Cook Islands, who will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next matches against Fiji and Tonga. Despite the loss, Cook Islands head coach Tupou Brogan expressed confidence in his team's preparation and resilience, emphasizing that their focus remains on growth and improvement as the tournament progresses. Samoa's performance, however, has set a high standard, and they are now clearly a team to watch as the competition unfoldsed off their OFC U-16 Women’s Championship campaign in commanding fashion with a 10-0 victory over the Cook Islands, sending a strong message to the rest of the tournament. The match, held at HFC Bank Stadium in Fiji, saw Samoa take an early lead in the third minute through Kealia Nansen, who calmly finished a cross from the right flank. This set the tone for a match dominated by Samoa’s clinical attacking play, as Jayde Sagapolutele netted twice within the first 14 minutes, and Holly Leapai curled in a well-placed shot in the 18th minute to make it 4-0.
Samoa continued to pile on the pressure in the second half, with Nansen completing her hat trick in the 48th minute. The Samoan captain, Lynn Aiono Sagiao, also made her mark by scoring twice in the final 20 minutes, sealing an emphatic victory. While the Cook Islands managed their first real attempt on goal in the 55th minute, Samoa’s defense remained solid, effectively shutting down any chance of a comeback. Head coach Juan Chang's side executed their game plan to perfection, showcasing their depth and cohesion, a stark contrast to their pre-tournament status as the last team to qualify.
The defeat was a significant blow to the Cook Islands, who will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next matches against Fiji and Tonga. Despite the loss, Cook Islands head coach Tupou Brogan expressed confidence in his team's preparation and resilience, emphasizing that their focus remains on growth and improvement as the tournament progresses. Samoa's performance, however, has set a high standard, and they are now clearly a team to watch as the competition unfolds
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