Monday, Oct. 16, New Delhi, India - It’s been a tough week for U.S. Soccer, but the U-17 national team has shown great promise for the future - and the present.
The Americans beat Paraguay, 5-0, in the first knockout round of the U-17 World Cup. The tournament has seen the U.S. win three of its four matches, and now the young Yanks find themselves amongst the final eight nations competing for the title.
The U.S. completely overwhelmed a Paraguayan side that had convincingly won each of its three group stage matches. Paraguay was slightly favored in the fixture, but the Americans came out with a point to prove. Tim Weah found the back of the net in the first half and USA looked in control heading into the break.
Early in the second half, USA doubled its lead courtesy of a stunning strike from Weah, who would finish with a hat trick on the night. Tim Weah is the first American player to score a hat trick in the U-17 World Cup since Freddy Adu in 2003. Weah is clearly a special talent who is not afraid of the big moments. The Rosedale, N.Y. native plays his club soccer for PSG.
Well-crafted goals from Andrew Carleton and Josh Sargent made it 5-0, capping off a spectacular overall team performance by the U.S.
Watch the highlights here.
Performances like this should excite and encourage U.S. soccer fans. These 16 and 17-year-olds are staking their claim for a spot in the senior team for the next cycle of FIFA World Cup Qualifying - and the future looks bright.
USA is set to play England in the FIFA U-17 World Cup Quarterfinal on Saturday.
The Americans’ best U-17 World Cup finish came in 1999, when Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley led the Stars and Stripes to a fourth-place finish.
MATCH: FIFA U-17 World Cup Quarterfinal
United States vs. England
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, India
Saturday, Oct. 21, 10:30 a.m.; FS2
