USA 5-0 Paraguay, U-17 World Cup: Beatdown in New Delhi

Boy, we needed that. The United States U-17 men’s national team crushed Paraguay in the second round of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup 5-0. Timothy Weah led the team with a hat trick, while Andrew Carleton and Josh Sargent both added goals for the young Americans.

The match started slow, but the American’s bank account was opened in the 19th minute. Andrew Carleton sent a great ball to Ayo Akinola, who fed it to Timothy Weah in the box, and Weah punched it home.

The U-17 defense had a couple shaky moments in the first half, but in the end, the Paraguayan attacks were pushed out of the box or ended with harmless shots on goal. In the 44th minute, Chris Goslin rattled the crossbar with a laser from distance.

The U.S. pressed forward again and in the 3rd minute of first half stoppage time, after a throw in deep in the final third, Andrew Carleton served it to Ayo Akinola inside the 6 yard box, who attempted to chest it into the goal. It was cleared by a Paraguayan defender as the ball was crossing the line. It was ruled no goal by the refere, and replay angles didn’t clearly show the ball going over the line before it was cleared. The first half ended with the Americans leading 1-0.

In the second half, Andrew Carleton, Timothy Weah and Josh Sargent decided it was time to put on a clinic. And boy, did they. The show was live and in living color, and the three young American stars showed the world that their team was much better than their 3rd place finish in Group A would indicate.

Timothy Weah made American fans jump out of their seats with a golazo in the 53rd minute. Andrew Carleton left a ball for Indiana Vassilev, who made the pass to Weah. Weah then let loose with the wizardry.

In the 63rd minute, the Americans kept the party going, with Josh Sargent feeding Andrew Carleton for the sweet finish to make it 3-0.

Josh Sargent had a breakaway chance in the 73rd minute, but his cross to Weah in front of the net sailed out of bounds. Sargent was not to be denied, getting another breakaway pass a minute later from Carleton and pounding this home underneath the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Carleton set up Weah again as Timothy Weah finishes off the hat trick to make it 5-0.

Paraguay’s Blas Armoa had their best chance of the match in the 83rd minute, sending a shot just over the crossbar. But, Paraguay proved to be no match for the midfield and striking partnership of the United States in the 2nd half and barely registered anything of note. The Americans dominated to earn their 3rd victory in this U-17 World Cup in electric fashion.

The U.S. U-17s now head to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of England and Japan October 21st in Margao.