Football: For the first time in 17 years, American Samoa win

Having won an official match for the first time to end a losing streak of 30 games in 17 years American Samoa, the world’s joint lowest-ranked international team, now aim to achieve “something special” in Oceania’s World Cup qualifying competition. The Polynesian chain of islands who in 2001 lost 31-0 to Australia – the heaviest defeat recorded in international soccer – famously beat Tonga 2-1 in the first round. They next play the Cook Islands knowing a win would put them in a strong position to emerge from their four-team group. [caption id=“attachment_139854” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“American Samoa finally broke their losing streak. AP”] [/caption] “This is going to be part of soccer history, just like the 31-nothing against Australia was part of history,” American Samoa coach Thomas Rongen said after they beat Tonga. “I’m so proud of the players. We’ve got two more games to play; maybe we have a chance to do something special here beyond this one game. American Samoa are 204th in FIFA’s world rankings, sharing bottom spot with Andorra, Montserrat, Samoa and San Marino. Reuters