In another one-sided pre-quarterfinal match here at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, here, United States of America rammed Paraguay 4-0 to reach the last-8 of the FIFA under-17 World Cup on Monday. Timothy Weah with a hat-trick, along with Andrew Carleton and skipper Joshua Sargent (1 goal each), was the star of the night for the Yanks.
In a match completely dominated by the North American side, Paraguay did well to keep to score to just 1-0 at half-time.
Following Weah's screamer early on in the second half, the South American team lost shape at the back and USA took full advantage of it, scoring three more goals.
Paraguay had an early chance in the match when Julio Baez quickly took a free-kick close to the half-line and found Alan Rodriguez free on the left-flank, whose threatening cross inside the box was not reached by unmarked leandro Sanchez. Alan made few more threatening runs from the left as he toyed with right back Akila Watts on numerous instances but couldn't find finesse in his final touches nor passes.
The US soon got their act together and created a goal from a fantastic three-touch manoeuvre goal spreading atleast across 45 yards of the pitch.
The move started with Sand's first-touch through pass to Ayo Akinola on left-flank, who played an early cross to unmarked Weah in the far post and the young striker made no mistake in tapping the ball into the net.
Paraguay coach Gustavo Monirigo made an early change in the game by introducing striker Fernando Romero for right winger Antonio Galeano in the 30th minute but the 4-4-2 formation wasn't disturbed as central striker Fernando Cardozo was moved to the vacant right flank.
likewise, John Hackworth was forced to bring in midfielder Indiana Vassilev for Blaine Ferri in the 34th minute.
The team of stars and stripes came inches closer to doubling their lead in the dying minutes of the first half as Ayo Akinola's header was cleared off the line by Paraguayan defender Marcelo Rolon.
The South American side's coach started the second half on a positive note as leandro Sanchez received a pass inside the box one-on-one with the goalkeeper Justin Garces but failed to control the ball and lost it soon to the fast-approaching defenders.
Star of the match Weah took no time in killing the game after that as he curled in his second goal of the night from a tight angle as he dazzled past right back Jesus Rolon from outside the box.
Playing with their shoulder down, the South Americans were put into more misery as Carleton scored USA's third goal of the night after receiving a pass from captain Sargent.
Carleton returned the favour in the 74th minute as he assisted Sargent for his second goal of this World Cup.
The North Americans kept on dominating in the attacking third as they came close to finding more goals on the night but were unable to take their chance target.
The Paraguayans, on the other hand, waited impatiently for the referee to blow the final whistle but Weah was in no mood to leave the field without getting the match ball as he scored his hat-trick from Carleton's ground cross inside the box, thereby inflicting a demoralising 0-5 loss to the Morinigo-coached side.
USA will next face England or Japan on 21st October in the quarter-finals in humid conditions of
Margao, Goa.