Riding on Tim Weah’s three  goals, USA rode roughshod over Paraguay to win 5-0 at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on Monday and become the second team to book their quarter-final berth in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

For the winners, who led 1-0 at the half time, goal scorers were Weah (19th, 53rd and 77th), Andrew Carleton (63rd) and Joshua Sargent (74m).

In a fast-paced match, Americans dominated the show but the Paraguayans were unlucky not to have scored at least twice.

Americans had their well laid-out plan to defend and make incisive counter moves, which they executed well.

Paraguayans  depended on speed and blistering attack and those tactics helped them to breach the rival defence many a times but the strikers were off the target.

Weah, Carleton, Joshua Sargent created problems galore for their rivals with their tactical brilliance.  The  trio time and again made incisive counter moves tearing apart  the  rival defence. But for the misdirected shots and some super saves by goal keeper Diego Huesca ,the  margin  of victory would have been much higher.

The first session saw Paraguay battling it out with their rivals on an equal footing. They forced the Americans to fall back to defend their citadel many a times but the  strikers Fernando Cardozo, Antonio Galeano, mid fielder Alan Rodriguez and Brian Ojeda turned out to be too profligate.

Weah, son of 1995 FIFA World Player George Weah, lived up to his pre tournament reputation. The lanky striker time and again darted passed the crowded defence with his subtle moves.

In the 15th minute Paraguay had a chance to take the lead but Alan Rodriguez’s shot was superbly blocked by goal keeper Justin Brace.

Four minutes later it was the turn of the Americans and they did not miss the chance. Ayo Akinola, who was excellent in front created an opening for Tim Weah whose left footer from the centre of the box beat goal keeper Diego Huesca (1-0).

The Paraguayans hit back strongly as Antonio Galeano moved up and set up Julio Báez whose right footed shot from outside the box was cleared by the goal keeper.

As the Paraguayans showed signs of fighting back, the Americans tended to get physical and in the processs defender James Sands and Chris Goslin were shown yellow card.

Three minutes before the interval Alan Rodríguez again missed a chance to equalize as left footer flew over the bar.

In the stroke of  half time Paraguay defenders saved a virtual goal when he blocked Akinola’s shot on the goal line.

Seven minutes into the second session Alan Rodríguez squandred another fine chance when he failed to convert an opening by Jesus Rolon by  send the ball over the bar.

And then came American assault and Paraguayans just capitulated.

Substitute Indiana Vassilev sent a cross to unmarked Weah who with a stunning right footer from out side the box send ball crashing into the net (2-0)

Ten minutes later Americans further consolidated their lead when captain Joshua Sargent moved up and sent a fine lob to Andrew Carleton who drew out the goal keeper to send the ball home (3-0).

As it was not enough,  Andrew Carleton returned the compliments in the 74th minute setting his captain Josh Sargent whose righter footer from the right side of the box found the top right corner of the goal (4-0).

Paraguay’s cup of misery was full when in the 77th minute Andrew Carleton darted past the defenders and relayed the ball to Weah who blasted the ball home for his third and team’s fifth goal.

Weah, whose father placed as a striker for AC Milan and at present contest election of President of Liberia,  reduced  Paraguay to a state of helplessness and their misery ended when referee Ovidu Hategan blew the whistle signally end of the match.

USA in the process kept their unbeaten record on this pitch, having beaten India (3-0) and Ghana (1-0) in the league matches.