Samoa reel in World Cup hopefuls in Salt Lake City nailbiter

Chile and Samoa delivered one of the year’s most entertaining clashes, the first leg of the Pacific/Sudamérica World Cup playoff finishing in a 32-all draw at Salt Lake City’s America First Field.

Manu Samoa trailed for most of the game but drew level with no time left, leaving all to be decided in the second leg.

While Pablo Lemoine may feel frustrated with his team’s second-half display, Chile’s opening 40 minutes were superb as the Cóndores dominated possession and territory. They struck first when lock Javier Eissmann crossed after sustained pressure, Santiago Videla adding the conversion.

Videla soon stretched the lead with a penalty before Christian Leali’ifano replied with Samoa’s first points. Chile’s more mobile forward pack were causing problems, consistently opening gaps in the gainline.

On 20 minutes, centre Matías Garafulic finished out wide to extend the lead, with Iakopo Mapu sin-binned for a high tackle in the build-up to Chile’s second try.

Samoa hit back almost immediately. Theodore Steffany dinked a grubber through for Melani Nanai, who was dragged down just short. Steffany followed up to gather and score in the corner.

Chile reasserted control before the break, adding ten more points. Lock Santiago Pedrero finished a flowing move involving eight offloads, Videla converting and then landing a penalty to send the Cóndores in 17 clear at half-time.

Samoa returned from the break desperate to respond and clawed one back through wing Latrell Ah Kiong. Yet Chile answered swiftly, Garafulic striking again.

That would prove Chile’s last score. From there, Samoa mounted one of their great comebacks. Leali’ifano steered them around, earning penalties that gave territory deep in Chile’s 22.

A sharp offload from the veteran fly-half sent flanker Alamanda Motuga charging over, cutting the gap to 12 points. Chile squandered chances and lost momentum, while Samoa grew stronger.

With 10 minutes left, replacement No.8 Abraham Papali’i powered from the base of a scrum to score, Leali’ifano converting.

And with the clock gone, Papali’i crossed again to level it. Leali’ifano missed the conversion, but Samoa’s remarkable fightback ensures the playoff will be settled next week at Chile’s Estadio Sausalito.