On Saturday, the Netherlands put an end to the United States World Cup dream with a merciless 3-1 victory that advanced them into the quarterfinals.
Memphis Depay, Daley Blind, and a late goal from Denzel Dumfries helped the Dutch win deservedly, teaching their American rivals a bitter lesson in goal-scoring.
After losing three straight finals, the Netherlands will play either Argentina or Australia in the round of eight as they attempt to win their first World Cup.
The team led by seasoned coach Louis van Gaal earned a victory in Saturday’s round of 16 matches at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Although the USA had plenty of possession in a strong first-half performance, they frequently faltered in the final third due to a lack of poise.
Instead, it was the Dutch who patiently bided their time before forensically dissecting the Americans.
After just three minutes, USA striker Christian Pulisic wasted a great opportunity to give his team a 1-0 lead when he found himself in space but saw his effort blocked by Andries Noppert.
Encouraged by that early opportunity, the US continued to play aggressively and attacked high up the field.
However, the Netherlands seized the lead after 10 minutes.
The ball was pushed to Inter Milan’s Dumfries down the right thanks to the excellent midfield movement.
Dumfries found Depay, who completed a breathtaking 20-pass play in the greatest traditions of Dutch football history by sweeping home the goal.
Through Pulisic, the Americans once more forcibly pushed into Dutch territory, but the Chelsea player’s cross missed his American colleagues.
The biggest American opportunity of the second half came from Tim Weah in minute 43 when he unleashed a rasping effort that Noppert parried away.
But the Netherlands struck the decisive punch in the last seconds of the opening half.
Blind, who had eluded Sergino Dest, received a cross from Dumfries who had once more found space down the right and finished emphatically low.
Early in the second half, defender Walker Zimmerman poked a low cross from Dumfries towards the US goal, forcing goalkeeper Matt Turner to make a good save. The Netherlands almost increased their advantage at that point.
At halftime, USA coach Gregg Berhalter substituted Gio Reyna for the ineffectual Jesus Ferreira in the attack to give the team a more cutting edge.
The Borussia Dortmund player immediately stood out after assisting Weston McKennie with a shot that went past the crossbar.
Midway through the second half, Berhalter substituted Haji Wright for McKennie, and the substitution ignited a brief comeback.
Following the near-post clearance of a goal-bound opportunity in the 75th minute, Wright made it 2-1 with a flick from Pulisic’s cross that bounced over Noppert and into the Dutch goal.
However, the American comeback was fleeting. Another Dutch raid in the 81st minute disoriented the USA defence, allowing Blind to calmly cross to an unmarked Dumfries at the far post, who scored it 3-1.
AFP
