OFC Champions League: Pago Youth 2-2 Nukuhetulu – Match Recap, Highlights & Standings
- Jake Stewart
- Feb 2
- 2 min read
Johnica Collins scores again but it doesn't prevent Tonga's team from drawing
In the second game of the preliminary rounds, Pago Youth faced Nukuhetulu today (2), at the FFS Football Stadium in Apia. The American Samoa team entered the game as favorites, mainly after the Nukuhetulu team suffered a heavy defeat in the first round.
Article about the previous match(Pago Youth): https://www.sportsenews.online/post/ofc-champions-league-vaivase-tai-1-1-pago-youth-match-recap-highlights-standings
Article about the previous match(Nukuhetulu): https://www.sportsenews.online/post/ofc-champions-league-tupapa-maraerenga-3-0-nukuhetulu-match-recap-highlights-standings
Match Report
Nukuhetulu 2x2 Pago Youth – OFC Champions League 2026 | First Round 2st Match
Venue: FFS Football Stadium, Apia (Samoa)
Attendance: 75
Date & Time: 2/02/2026
Referee: Pari Oito (Tahiti)
Cards:
Goals: Pago Youth, Ledoux (71'), Collins(85')
Goals: Vaivase-Tai, Manuolevao (73’), Unaloto (90')
First Half
A match that was highly anticipated for Pago Youth after their heroic draw against Vaivase-Tai in the first round, and also because the Tonga team suffered a heavy defeat in the first round. Again, the key player for the American Samoan team was Johnica Collins, the youngster who became the all-time leading scorer in the American Samoan league. Despite high expectations for the team's foreign players, De Leeuw and Kerewi, the match ended in a goalless first half in Samoa.
Second Half
The second half started faster and more exciting. Around the halfway point, in the 71st minute, young Ledoux opened the scoring for the American Samoa team. However, it didn't last long, as in the 73rd minute, the also young Manuolveo equalized for the continental newcomer. But it didn't stop there, as the promising Johnica Collins scored Pago Youth's second goal from a penalty in the 85th minute. Everyone thought it would seal the victory, but in a penalty in practically the last minute, the young Tongan defender, Unaloto, scored the equalizer, securing the first points in Nukuhetulu's history.
Standings and next round
The Pago Youth team finished in second place and will face Tupapa Maraerenga in the final round of the preliminary phase on February 6th, while Nukuhetulu remains at the bottom of the tournament and will conclude its historic participation against Vaivase-Tai, also on February 6th.
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Detailed information from the federation:
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