American Samoa national association football team

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American Samoa national association football team

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American Samoa
Shirt badge/Association crest
Association Football Federation American Samoa (FFAS)
Confederation OFC (Oceania)
Head coach Thomas Rongen
Asst coach Laurent Lazar
Captain Liatama Amisone Jr.
Most caps Nicky Salapu (17)
Top scorer Shalom Luani
Ramin Ott (2)
Home stadium Veterans Memorial Stadium
FIFA code ASA
FIFA ranking 186
Highest FIFA ranking 186 (December 2011, April 2012)
Lowest FIFA ranking 206 (February 2011)
Elo ranking 231
Home colours
Away colours
First international
unofficial
 Western Samoa 3–1 Am. Samoa American Samoa
(Apia, Western Samoa; August 20, 1983)
FIFA recognised
Tonga Tonga 3–0 Am. Samoa American Samoa
(Rarotonga, Cook Islands; September 2, 1998)
Biggest win
unofficial
American Samoa Am. Samoa 3–0 Wallis and Futuna 
(Apia, Western Samoa; August 22, 1983)
FIFA recognized
American Samoa Am. Samoa 2–1 Tonga Tonga
(Apia, Samoa; November 22, 2011)
Biggest defeat
 Australia 31–0 American Samoa American Samoa
(Coffs Harbour, Australia; April 11, 2001)
(International Record)

The American Samoa national association football team (Samoan: Amerika Sāmoa soka au) represents American Samoa in association football and is controlled by the Football Federation American Samoa, the governing body the sport in the territory. American Samoa's home ground is Veterans Memorial Stadium in Pago Pago and their head coach is Thomas Rongen, who previously ran the United States U-20 team.[1] Regarded as one of the world's weakest teams,[1] until November 2011 they were the joint lowest FIFA ranking of all countries registered for full internationals.[2][3] The team hold the world record for the largest defeat in an international match, set after their 31–0 loss to Australia.[4]

American Samoa achieved its first victory in a 3–0 win against Wallis and Futuna in the group stage of the 1983 South Pacific Games,[5] when neither team was a member of FIFA.

On November 23, 2011, the team defeated Tonga 2–1 in the first round of OFC World Cup Qualification, with a long-range goal by Ramin Ott, and a chip over the keeper by Shalom Luani, helping them record their first official international victory after 30 consecutive defeats.[1]

They followed this up with a 1–1 draw against Cook Islands, but failed to progress in their qualifying group, after losing to Samoa 1–0, the only goal being scored in the 89th minute.

On December 2011 the team achieved its greatest position in the FIFA World Rankings.

Contents

American Samoa all time record against all nations

As of November 27, 2011 (UTC)
Against Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA GD  % Won
 Australia 1 0 0 1 0 31 −31 0%
 Cook Islands 3 0 1 2 4 8 −4 0%
 Fiji 2 0 0 2 0 24 −24 0%
 Guam 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2 0%
 New Caledonia 3 0 0 3 0 28 −28 0%
 Papua New Guinea 3 0 0 3 0 37 −37 0%
 Samoa 9 0 0 9 3 41 −38 0%
 Solomon Islands 2 0 0 2 1 16 −15 0%
 Tahiti 3 0 0 3 1 32 −31 0%
 Tonga 8 1 0 7 8 25 −17 12.5%
 Tuvalu 1 0 0 1 0 4 −4 0%
 Vanuatu 4 0 0 4 1 39 −38 0%
 Wallis and Futuna 2 1 0 1 4 5 −1 50%
Total 42 2 1 39 22 294 −272 4.76%

World Cup record

19301998: Did not enter
20022014: Did not qualify

World Cup qualification record

FIFA World Cup qualification history
Year Round H/A/N Score Result
2002 Group 1 N  American Samoa 0 – 13  Fiji Loss
Group 1 N  American Samoa 0 – 8  Samoa Loss
Group 1 N  American Samoa 0 – 31  Australia Loss
Group 1 N  American Samoa 0 – 5  Tonga Loss
2006 Group 1 A  American Samoa 0 – 4  Samoa Loss
Group 1 N  American Samoa 1 – 9  Vanuatu Loss
Group 1 N  American Samoa 0 – 11  Fiji Loss
Group 1 N  American Samoa 0 – 10  Papua New Guinea Loss
2010 Group B N  American Samoa 1 – 12  Solomon Islands Loss
Group B A  American Samoa 0 – 7  Samoa Loss
Group B N  American Samoa 0 – 15  Vanuatu Loss
Group B N  American Samoa 0 – 4  Tonga Loss
2014 First round N  American Samoa 2 – 1  Tonga Win
First round N  American Samoa 1 – 1  Cook Islands Draw
First round A  American Samoa 0 – 1  Samoa Loss

OFC Nations Cup record

South Pacific Games record

Performance at the 1983 South Pacific Games

The football tournament at the 1983 South Pacific Games in Western Samoa was the first time American Samoa had entered, having missed the six tournaments from 1963 to 1979. American Samoa were drawn in Group A along with Samoa, Tonga, and the Wallis and Futuna Islands. Two points would be awarded for a win, one for a draw, with the top two in each group advancing to the quarter-finals. Their first two games ended in defeat, losing 3–1 to Samoa and 3–2 to Tonga. In their final game against the Wallis and Futuna Islands, however, they achieved their best result to date, a 3–0 victory. The two points gained from this win, though, were not enough to finish in the top two, so American Samoa went out at the group stage.

Performance at the 1987 South Pacific Games

The 1987 football tournament saw American Samoa compete for the 2nd time in their history. In a format change from the previous tournament in 1983, the entered teams were placed in one large group, with the group winner taking the gold medal. In their opening match, American Samoa were on the receiving end of a 10–0 thrashing from the hosts, New Caledonia. Their next two matches also ended in defeat, albeit less severe: 7–0 against Vanuatu and 5–1 against the Wallis and Futuna Islands. Papua New Guinea, however, were less merciful, and scored twenty without reply in what turned out to be the American Samoans' last game of the tournament, their final match against Tahiti being cancelled. American Samoa would not enter again until 2007, missing the 1991, 1995, and 2003 tournaments.

Performance at the 2007 South Pacific Games

American Samoa made their 3rd appearance at the South Pacific Games football tournament in 2007. The competition also doubled as the first stage of the OFC qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with the three medal winners progressing to the final qualifying group. American Samoa were drawn in Group B along with the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, and Vanuatu. In their opening match, they were defeated 12–1 by the Solomon Islands, with Ramin Ott scoring only their second goal in their FIFA World Cup qualification history. Following two more heavy defeats (7–0 against Samoa and 15–0 against Vanuatu), American Samoa went into their final game versus Tonga unable to qualify from their group. Their 4–0 defeat in this game, however, was their best result since 2006.

American Samoa were featured on the David Beckham Soccer video game as part of the 31–0 defeat to Australia.

Managers

Squad

The following squad was selected for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification against Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands. The caps is of the players is only in FIFA matches.

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Club
1 1GK Nicky Salapu (1979-08-18)August 18, 1979 (aged 32) 17 Free Agent
2 2DF Liatama Amisone Jr.Captain (1989-03-02)March 2, 1989 (aged 22) 12 American Samoa Pago Youth
3 2DF Uasila'a Heleta (1986-01-21)January 21, 1986 (aged 25) 15 American Samoa Pago Youth
4 2DF Daru Taumua (1991-11-01)November 1, 1991 (aged 20) 10 Free Agent
5 2DF Tala Luvu (1990-09-02)September 2, 1990 (aged 21) 12 American Samoa Lion Heart FC
7 3MF Ismael Herrera (1991-10-03)October 3, 1991 (aged 20) 5 American Samoa PanSa East
8 3MF Moe Kuresa (1991-01-07)January 7, 1991 (aged 20) 8 Free Agent
9 3MF Ramin Ott (1986-06-22)June 22, 1986 (aged 25) 11 Free Agent
10 3MF Kid Bartley (1994-02-22)February 22, 1994 (aged 17) 0 American Samoa Tafuna High School
11 4FW Diamond Ott (1981-06-27)June 27, 1981 (aged 30) 7 Free Agent
12 2DF Terrence Sinapati (1980-09-21)September 21, 1980 (aged 31) 7 American Samoa PanSa East
13 4FW Faimalo Tapui (1983-07-03)July 3, 1983 (aged 28) 12 American Samoa Pago Youth
14 4FW Charlie Uhrle (1992-09-25)September 25, 1992 (aged 19) 8 Free Agent
15 4FW Gene Neemia (1988-02-06)February 6, 1988 (aged 23) 10 Free Agent
16 2DF Johnny Saelua[6] (1988-07-19)July 19, 1988 (aged 23) 10 Free Agent
17 3MF Natia Natia (1985-03-02)March 2, 1985 (aged 26) 11 Free Agent
18 2DF Justin Manao (1993-03-25)March 25, 1993 (aged 18) 3 United States Pacific Lutheran University
19 2DF Rawlston Masaniai (1983-05-13)May 13, 1983 (aged 28) 3 Free Agent
20 4FW Shalom Luani (1994-08-05)August 5, 1994 (aged 17) 10 American Samoa Faga'itua High School
21 4FW Suani Uelese (1991-05-30)May 30, 1991 (aged 20) 2 Free Agent
22 3MF Fitiuta Maiava (1990-07-12)July 12, 1990 (aged 21) 0 Free Agent
23 1GK Chin-Fu Ta'ase (1990-07-18)July 18, 1990 (aged 21) 2 American Samoa Pago Youth

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c "American Samoa wins first ever football match after 30 straight defeats in 17 years". The Daily Telegraph. November 23, 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/8912337/American-Samoa-wins-first-ever-football-match-after-30-straight-defeats-in-17-years.html. Retrieved November 23, 2011. 
  2. ^ "FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA.com. November 23, 2011. http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/index.html. Retrieved November 24, 2011. 
  3. ^ American Samoa's victory on November 23 came too late for this ranking period, and will be incorporated into the December rankings
  4. ^ Rookwood, Dan (April 11, 2001). "Aussie Rules as Socceroos smash world record again". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2001/apr/11/newsstory.sport9. Retrieved November 24, 2011. 
  5. ^ Lee, Ben (November 24, 2011). "American Samoa football team celebrate first win in 18 years". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/odd/news/a352752/american-samoa-football-team-celebrate-first-win-in-18-years.html. Retrieved November 24, 2011. 
  6. ^ "Saelua apparently became the first transgender player to compete on a World Cup stage." Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/26/sports/soccer/jonny-saelua-transgender-player-helps-american-samoa-to-first-international-soccer-win.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=jonny&st=cse, examined November 30, 2011.

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