New Delhi: Germany and the USA produced a combination of sublime skills and brute power as they trounced their respective opponents in the pre-quarterfinals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup here Monday.
Germany send Colombia packing 4-0 while the USA riding on a spectacular hat-trick by Tim Weah, thrashed Paraguay 5-0 to book their respective berths in the quarterfinals.
Germany captain and star striker Jann-Fiete Arp (seventh and 65th) struck twice while Yann Bisseck (39th) and John Yeboah (49th) scored to take their team through. They will now face the winners of the match between Brazil and Honduras to be played, October 18.
Germany had struggled to get the goals against their opponents in Group C but their strikers had a field day Monday, taking cracks at will as the Colombian defence put up an apology of a performance. All the goals scored by Germany came due to defensive bloopers committed either by Colombian goalkeeper Kevin Mier or the back four.
On the other hand the German defence completely bottled up Juan Panaloza, who scored both the goals against India, as well as Leandro Campaz who came in as a substitute.
Germany took a early lead to seize the initiative. Arp found himself in a one-on-one situation with Colombian goalkeeper Mier, from a Yeboah pass. The German striker’s first touch was not cleanly collected by the goalkeeper and Arp pounced on the rebound to score.
The second German goal came in the 39th minute as the Colombians allowed an unmarked Yann Bisseck to head in powerfully off a corner taken by Shaverdi Cetin.
In the other game on the day, the pace of the Americans was too much for the Paraguayans. Tim, son of former AC Milan and Liberian legend George Weah showed why PSG have decided to invest in his talent. Tim struck in the 19th, 53rd and 77th minutes while Andrew Carleton and captain Josh Sargent joined the American party with goals in the 63rd and 74th minutes.
Tim connected with clinical first touch off an Ayo Akinola cross to get the ball rolling for the Americans. His second was a spectacular shot from the left edge of the box after a clinical first touch, which curled round the diving goalkeeper to hit the right corner of the net. He got his hat-trick with an easy tap in after being unselfishly set up by Carleton in front of an open goal.
Press Trust of India