New Delhi: United States striker Tim Weah said Monday that his side felt like playing at home during their 5-0 thrashing of Paraguay in their FIFA U-17 World Cup pre-quarterfinal match here, Monday.
The United States received boisterous support from the 34,000-odd spectators at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here during their match in which Weah scored the hat-trick. Later on he thanked the crowd for their support.
“As we came out of the tunnel, we heard the crowd chanting my name and also ‘USA, USA’ and we said to each other that we have come back home. The crowd support boosted our confidence. It was fantastic. So thank you for the support to our team. We love India,” Weah, who scored the tournament’s second hat-trick, said.
Weah also described his second goal in the match as one of the best of his career. “The second goal, I do not know, I just cut back and instinctively took the shot. But without the pass from (Chris) Gloster, the goal would not have happened. Most of my goals have been like tap-ins and I was very excited and happy to have scored such a goal,” informed the 17-year-old.
USA coach John Hackworth described second Weah’s goal as world class. “It is not only brilliant but also world class,” the coach said.
Asked when he expects he will make it to PSG’s first team, Weah said he was hoping that it would happen sometime during the current season. “It is going to be hard, but with hard work and dedication anything is possible. When I got to train with the likes of (Kylian) Mbappe, (Edinson) Cavani and Neymar, I thought my time (with first team) is going to come. Coach Unai Emery is satisfied with me and so hopefully I hope I can make it to the first team towards the end of this season,” said Weah.
Weah said that his American mother was happy with his performance in the ongoing tournament. However, he has failed to talk to his father – the legendary George Weah who is fighting Liberia’s presidential election and is expected to win hands down.
Press Trust of India
