Fiji, Nov. 2 -- Tonga have prevailed 20-18 over Samoa in an epic World Cup contest in front of a record crowd of 29,411 at CommBank Stadium.

Both teams now head towards the semi-finals on the back of a pulsating contest that ebbed and flowed for the entire 80 minutes.

After the emotion of the pre-game war cries had settled it was Tonga who looked to have grabbed first points in the 13th minute when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak launched himself for the corner but replays showed his foot had grazed the sideline.

Four minutes later Tonga went close again when Jojo Fifita had a chance in the left-hand corner but desperate defence from Stephen Crichton denied him.

Come the 24th minute and Fifita returned serve when he jammed in and forced an er...