The Netherlands were the dominant side on the pitch and defeated the United States 3-1 in the Round of 16, eliminating the Americans from the 2022 World Cup.
Denzel Dumfries’ led the Netherlands with two first half assists and scored the match-clinching goal for his side in the 81st minute, sending the Netherlands into the World Cup Quarterfinals.
The match quickly went full-octane, as the United States had the first chance of the match just over 120 seconds after kickoff.
A Sergiño Dest cross from the right side was half-cleared by the Dutch defense, but Tyler Adams managed to feed a second ball into the penalty area. Adams’ pass fell to Christian Pulisic, who was held onside by a defender on the opposite end, and his shot forced Andries Noppert into making the first save of the contest.
Though the start was in favor of the Americans, it was the Dutch who scored first.
Cody Gakpo collected the ball around midfield in the 10th minute before dishing off a perfect pass that found Denzel Dumfries at the right edge of the penalty area. Dumfries’ first-touch was a cross across the box that a trailing Memphis Depay caught in stride before beating Matt Turner to his right, giving Netherlands the 1-0 lead.
After 15 minutes of back and forth play, Memphis made a long run into the American penalty area and won the Netherlands a corner in the 28th minute. After the first corner was cleared out for a second Dutch corner kick, which was also cleared away by the United States.
Just before the end of the first 45, the United States had another chance on goal.
A cross was blocked away from the penalty area by the Netherlands defense, but the ball fell right to Timothy Weah a couple yards outside the penalty area. Weah took a sumptuous strike from distance that was on target, but Noppert had no problem denying the American goal-scoring opportunity.
Then, in first half stoppage time, the Dutch doubled their lead.
Dumfries again collected the ball on the right edge of the and made a run toward the byline. Before going out he layed off a pass to the middle of the penalty area (very similar to his assist on Memphis’ goal) and a trailing Daley Blind hammered home the goal to send Netherlands into the halftime break up 2-0.
The United States had the first chance of the second half after Weah won them a corner in the 49th minute. Pulisic’s corner kick found Weston McKennie, whose flick-on found Tim Ream in front of goal. Ream managed to get a toe on the ball, but his on-goal effort was cleared off the goal-line by Cody Gakpo.
The Netherlands then broke away on the counter attack and again Dumfries had the ball along the right flank. Dumfries made a run toward the byline in the 50th minute and unleashed a cross intended for Memphis in front of goal. The ball deflected off the leg of Walker Zimmerman and forced Turner into a save. Turner’s save bounced away from the American keeper but, after a bit of chaos, the ball was cleared away.
Pulisic and McKennie had chances for the United States on consecutive spells of possessions, but their shots were saved and skied the net, respectively.
Memphis nearly earned his brace in the 61st minute. Cody Gakpo had the ball at the edge of the penalty area and couldn’t find a way around Walker Zimmerman, so he let off a pass to Memphis. Memphis’ effort was dipping under the crossbar, so Turner had to tip it over the bar to stop the Dutch attack.
Netherlands had two prime chances within seconds of one another in the 71st minute to add to their lead. Gakpo found substitute Teun Koopmeiners with a pass at the edge of the penalty area and Koopmeiners’ left-footed effort forced Turner into a save. The rebound bounced into the air for Memphis to take a header, which was saved by Turner.
The United States were gifted a chance in the 75th minute after Memphis scuffed his back-pass intended for Noppert. Haji Wright’s first touch in the box failed him, but he still won a corner for the United States.
After the corner kick was recycled back to Pulisic, he crossed the ball into the area and found the left foot of Wright, which deflected the ball inside the far post of the goal and cut the Dutch lead in half, 2-1, in the 76th minute.
The excitement wouldn’t last, however, as Netherlands found their third goal in the 81st minute. The ball had made its way out wide to the left with the second Dutch goalscorer Blind. The winger had plenty of time and his cross found a completely unmarked Dumfries at the far post, who had no problem tapping in the goal to give his side the 3-1 lead.
Netherlands was able to thwart multiple American chances in the more than six minutes of second half stoppage time, securing the 3-1 win for the Dutch.
The United States outshot Netherlands 17-11 and had eight efforts on goal to the Dutch’s six, though it was not enough to stave off elimination from the World Cup.
The Netherlands advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of Argentina vs. Australia.
