AMERICAN SAMOA, LED by former US Under-20 coach Thomas Rongen, won its first international soccer match after 30 consecutive losses by beating Tonga 2-1 in the start of Oceania World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night.
American Samoa, tied for 203rd and last in the FIFA rankings, had been outscored 229-12 since starting international play in 1994, including a world record 31-0 defeat to Australia in a World Cup qualifier a decade ago.
Rongen was fired as coach of the US Under-20 team in May, and he was hired by American Samoa in October. He is a former coach of Major League Soccer teams Tampa Bay, New England, DC United and Chivas USA.
Ramin Ott scored on a long-range shot in the 44th minute and Shalom Luani lobbed goalkeeper Kaneti Falela in the 74th for American Samoa, while Unaloto Faeo got a goal on an 87th-minute header for Tonga, tied for 201st in the rankings.
The group winner advances to the eight-nation second round, which includes 2010 World Cup qualifier New Zealand.
