Solomon Islands Edge Past American Samoa In Group B Opener

Scoop

02-08-2025

The decisive goal came late in the first half through striker Janita Ereanimae, in what proved to be a tight and hard-fought encounter.
Making their debut at this level after winning the qualifying tournament in the Cook Islands in May, American Samoa showed plenty of promise. Coach Diane Justus had strengthened her squad with four U.S.-based players, and her side created enough chances to feel they deserved at least a share of the points.
American Samoa was the stronger team in the second half and pushed hard for an equaliser, showing they could compete with a side riding the momentum of the senior national team's OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025 triumph last month.
The Solomon Islands started brightly and nearly took the lead in the 6th minute when Rose Aba turned sharply in the box and fired a powerful shot towards the bottom right corner, only for Leila Salausa in the American Samoa goal to get a glove on the ball and push it wide.
American Samoa's first real opportunity came in the 23rd minute through Anaiyah Vee, who burst down the right wing, beating multiple defenders with her pace and strength. However, her low cross just missed the run of an unmarked Naimanu Samuelu in the box.
Defensively, American Samoa remained solid throughout the first half, playing an effective offside trap that frequently caught the Solomon Islands forwards.
Vee nearly opened the scoring in the 37th minute when she found space in the box, but her shot went straight at the impressive Fiona Goroani in the Solomon Islands goal. Just a minute later, the deadlock was broken. Aba beat the offside line and squared across goal for Ereanimae, who squeezed her effort past the advancing Salausa. Though the goalkeeper got a hand to it, Ereanimae followed up to tap the ball into the net.
Vee continued to threaten for American Samoa and came close again four minutes before halftime, unleashing a powerful strike from the right that narrowly missed the far post.
American Samoa came out strongly after the break, and Diamond Joung nearly equalised in the 49th minute. She broke into the box and aimed for the corner, but her effort lacked power and Goroani got down well to save.
Goroani was later forced off following a collision and was replaced by Maria Selestina for the final third of the match. Despite continued pressure from American Samoa, their attacking moves often faltered in the final third. They came closest to a late equaliser a few minutes from full time when a header from a corner bobbled off Selestina and onto the crossbar before being eventually cleared, and the Solomon Islands managed to hold on for the three points.