Another win for a World's Worst: Samoa 3 Cook Islands 2

Samoa 3-2 Cook Islands

22^nd November 2011
J.S. Blatter Stadium, Apia, Samoa
Oceania World Cup Qualifying Round 1

Samoa may not have been at the foot of the world rankings for anything like as long as American Samoa have, but at the foot they currently are.  That will soon be changing thanks to an incredible day of World’s Worst action in Apia, Samoa.

Following on from American Samoa’s historic win over Tonga, Samoa grabbed a dramatic last gasp victory over the Cook Islands to win 3-2 and top the Oceania World Cup qualifying table after the first round of matches.


Samoa twice took the lead thanks to goals from Luki Gosche, the second coming after a  defensive lapse, only to be pegged back twice by Cook Islander Campbell Best, his second equaliser coming as late as the 85^th minute to make it 2-2 with a low volley.

But to complete a great day in World’s Worst history, Albert Bell scored in the second minute of injury time to grab the win and all three points in World Cup qualification for Samoa.

There had been a fair amount of drama earlier too, with Cook Islands keeper Iona Lupena saving a first and a re-taken penalty.  He saved the first from Desmond Fa’aiuaso but was judged to have encroached.  Samoa changed the penalty taker for the re-take but the result was the same as Lupena saved again, this time from Silao Malo.

The win puts Samoa to the top of the group table at this early stage, and they will face Tonga next on 24^th November.

Standings:                   Pl.        W         D          L          F-A       Pts.

1.      Samoa                         1          1          0          0           3-2        3

2.      American Samoa         1          1          0           0           2-1        3

3.      Cook Islands               1           0          0         1            2-3        0

4.      Tonga                          1          0          0          1           1-2         0