Samoa have made history by scoring their first-ever goal at a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in their 4-2 loss to France in Morocco.
Making their first appearance at the tournament, Samoa faced the strong French squad in their Group D match at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat.
From the outset, France dominated and raced to a 3-0 lead within 33 minutes.
Crosses from Ludivine Bardet allowed Camille Marmillot and Thais Gallais to head France into a two-goal lead.
Gallais swivelled stylishly to make it three.
Samoa’s groundbreaking goal came in the 37th minute when a free kick was floated into the French penalty area, and goalkeeper Alexane Lambert spilled it into the path of Samoa striker Jayde Eldredge, who had come into play as a substitute only three minutes earlier.
She tapped the ball over the goalline to the delight of the team and those in the Samoan dugout.
After turning around 1-3 behind, Samoa pulled a goal back after 51 minutes, again from a well-worked set piece.
A free kick from 40 metres was pumped into a crowded penalty area and Makea Leonard cleverly flicked the ball over the head of advancing ‘keeper Lambert, and into the net.
The French protested but after a video review, referee Yacine Samassa, from Mauritania, ruled the goal would stand.
In the 55th minute, Samoa had to survive a video review after claims for a French penalty for handball.
As the game continued, the French were clearly rattled, despite their domination, and to their relief, a stoppage-time goal from a Elena Moreira Da Rocha free kick put the result beyond doubt.
Photo Credit: FIFA.com
The end-of-game statistics showed France converted their 74% of ball possession into 69 shots, of which 25 were on target.
Samoa scored from both their only shots during the game.
Samoa goalkeeper Grace Ae was named Player of the Match.
Photo Credit: FIFA.com
After the match, Samoa head coach Juan Chang enthused about his team’s performance.
“We’re speechless. We have put a lot of work in, so I’m just really glad that the girls demonstrated what we can do, despite being the smallest country ever to play in a World Cup,” he told FIFA.com.
“People say David versus Goliath, but the only thing we want to do is to make Samoa proud, and to make the Oceania region proud, and I’m pretty confident the girls did that today.”
The Samoans play next against Canada on Thursday (NZT).
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