After a hard fought battle on their home ground, Cook Islands U16 women’s team lost to American Samoa 5-4 in the OFC U-16 Women's Championship 2025 - Qualifying, in Rarotonga.

This was the decider match for the final spot in the OFC Women’s U-16 Championships in Samoa.

And American Samoa has qualified for an OFC tournament for the first time, following an action-packed 5-4 victory over the Cook Islands on match day three at the OFC U-16 Women's Championship 2025 - Qualifying.

A dominant first half performance was enough for American Samoa to hold on and claim victory, despite a spirited comeback from the tournament hosts in a nine-goal epic.

It marks the first time American Samoa have progressed from a qualifying competition to gain entry to an OFC event at any level. 

The match shaped as a shoot-out for a place at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2025, with the Cook Islands needing a win to progress, and American Samoa requiring just a draw. 

With so much on the line, it turned into a classic. 

Captain Metuamrau Arere put the Cook Islands ahead in the sixth minute, but it was quickly cancelled out by two goals in three minutes from American Samoa.

Wendolynn Tua levelled it up, before Salamasina Satele capitalised on a goal-keeping error in the 11th minute to flip the contest on its head. 

Satele had her second goal just eight minutes later, and Maryjane Laina made it four in the 25th minute when she converted a one-on-one situation with Moerai Ngametua. 

Desperately in need of a goal, Tetianui Pitomaki pulled one back for the Cook Islands with a wonderful long-range effort in first-half stoppage time. 

Arere had the chance to further reduce it back to just a one-goal deficit from the penalty spot before the break, but Reililah Noa got down to save well to her left.

The goals kept coming in the second half, as Maryjaine Laina scored her second for American Samoa, only to be cancelled out by Arere’s second for the Cook Islands. 

The score was 5-3 to American Samoa with half an hour to play, but the Cook Islands continued to believe, and Metuamaru Arere completed her hat trick in the 74th minute to put the hosts on the verge of completing the comeback. 

Despite some late pressure and numerous chances, American Samoa survived the late onslaught to hold on for victory and secure qualification.

They will now join New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and Tonga, in Group B at the OFC U-16 Women's Championship 2025 in Apia in August. OFC Media

Cook Islands 4 (Metuamaru ARERE 6’, 58’, 74’, Tetianui PITOMAKI 45+2’)
American Samoa 5 (Wendolynn TUA 8’, Salamasina SATELE 11’, 19’, Maryjane LAINA 25’, 50’) 

HT 2-4