Samoa have booked their spot in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals, after a thrilling win over rivals Tonga at Warrington.
They held off a brave Tonga fightback to claim a 20-18 victory in a highly charged quarter-final to set up a rematch against pool rivals England.
Halfback Anthony Milford starred, setting up two tries to send Samoa to their first ever World Cup semi-finals appearance.
Samoa needed just three minutes to open the scoring, with Jaydn Su'a on the receiving end of a brilliant Milford pass that sent the sidestepping second-rower over, but Tonga hit back almost immediately, with fullback Will Hopoate finding winger Daniel Tupou with a cutout pass.
Samoa five-eighth Jarome Luai made Tonga pay for poor defence, brushing off one tackle, before cutting back inside to score their second.
Tonga hit back shortly before halftime through Siosiua Taukeiaho, after a clever grubber kick by Soni Luke, to reduce Samoa's lead to just 12-10 at the break.
Tonga locked up the scores shortly into the second half, with Isaiya Katoa converting a penalty shot at goal, but a penalty goal by Stepehn Cricthton and a try by winger Brian To'o swung the momentum back towards Samoa, after a fortuitous bounce of the ball.
A brilliant run by fullback Joseph Suaali'i laid the platform, before a Milford crossfield kick evaded everyone and fell to an unmarked To'o on his wing.
Much as they had done all match, Tonga responded to pile the pressure on Samoa and set up a thrilling finish.
Centre Mosese Suli put Sione Katoa through a gaping hole, with the winger racing away from 40m out to touch down for the try in the 70th minute, but Samoa held their nerve, with captain Junior Paulo smothering Tongan halfback Tuimoala Lolohea's attempted grubber kick in the closing seconds to seal a famous win.
Samoa 20 (Su'a, Luai, To'o tries; Crichton 3 conversions & penalty) Tonga 18 (Tupou, Taukeiaho, Katoa tries; Katoa 2 conversions & penalty)
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