Netherlands beat US 3-1 to reach World Cup quarterfinals
The USMNT missed several good scoring opportunities. The Dutch took advantage of opportunities to gain an edge or punish the US.
The Netherlands await Saturday’s winner between Argentina and Australia.
Here are the game’s highlights.
Dutch 3, US 1
The Netherlands beat the U.S. 3-1. The U.S. exits Qatar in the round of 16.
The USMNT’s goal was to advance from a group with England, Iran, and Wales, which they did. The second-youngest team at the World Cup must consider this a success.
They didn’t perform well in this game. Blind and Dumfries scored on defensive breakdowns, and Pulisic and Wright squandered opportunities. This was a game the US could’ve learned from. 3-1 loss will be tough to accept.
Dumfries scores for the Dutch in the 81st minute. Blind passes to Dumfries at the far post and scores to restore the Netherlands’ two-goal lead. He had two assists and a goal in this round-of-16 game.
15 minutes left, the US scores. Pulisic’s corner kick takes a weird deflection off Wright’s leg and drifts in at the back post. Onward!
68th minute: The USMNT have committed more players forward, but it hasn’t led to many better chances. The Netherlands have had their best chances when defenders have pushed into the attacking third.
We’re making some substitutions. Wright and Brenden Aaronson will replace Weah and McKennie, while Robinson was treated after colliding with Dumfries. Fulham’s left defender will play but isn’t 100%.
55th minute: Action-packed opening to the second half. First, Ream’s header was cleared off the line, then the Dutch nearly forced a Zimmerman own-goal.
US possession is 60.6% to 39.4%, while xG is 1.29 to 0.24. The Netherlands dominate the one stat that matters.
Gio Reyna replaces Ferreira in the 51st minute. The FC Dallas man didn’t generate or convert chances, and his ability to pull defenders out of position helped his teammates little. Now it’s up to Reyna, who played seven minutes in Qatar, to jumpstart the offence.
Netherlands 2, USA 0
In the final 15 minutes of the half, the US dominated possession and got solid looks. Weah and Dest looked threatening. The Netherlands needed one chance at the 10-minute mark to make it 2-0.
Ferreira failed to clear a Dutch throw, allowing the Oranje to advance. Daley Blind scored when Dest failed to pick up his diagonal run from left wingback. US naivety cost them.
After conceding first, the USMNT has never won a World Cup match. Never won a World Cup match when behind at halftime; 14 losses is second most in tournament history. They’re 0-11-1 when down by two goals or more, with the lone draw occurring in 2010 against Slovenia.
The US must produce more clear-cut chances and be more clinical in their finishing at halftime. The US has been one of the worst second-half teams at Qatar 2022, and Berhalter’s subs have been unsuccessful.
The US has stabilised in the last 10 minutes, regaining its rhythm and possession edge, but it’s vulnerable in transition. Ferreira and Ream each turned the ball over twice in the middle third, threatening the Netherlands on the run.
20th minute goal changes game. The once-raucous pro-US audience has quieted, the Americans are displaying nervousness, and the Dutch look much more relaxed than in the opening 10 minutes.
10th minute: US started well. They forced the Netherlands to chase with 72% of the possession in the first minutes and created obvious chances.
Pulisic has had the finest start. McKennie’s looped ball over the Dutch defenders put Pulisic one-on-one with Noppert, but he missed.
The Netherlands lead against all odds. Memphis brings a ball back from the right wing and scores in the bottom corner. This opportunity has a 0.07 xG value.
Minutes after Pulisic should’ve scored, the Americans retaliated brutally.
Christian Pulisic is fit to start against the Netherlands after a week of discussion regarding his pelvis. Josh Sargent is out after injuring his ankle against Iran on Tuesday.
Gregg Berhalter always has doubts about the US men’s national team selection. Jesus Ferreira didn’t participate in the group stage but starts in the USMNT’s greatest game. Berhalter’s choice is justifiable. The US have few choices at No. 9 without Sargent, with Haji Wright failing to impress in the group round.
The manager might have used a false nine with Timothy Weah or Giovanni Reyna, but both are problematic. Weah has excelled on the right side of the U.S. front three, stretching opposing backlines and providing space for centre players. Reyna’s fitness is questionable, making a start improbable.
Walker Zimmerman replaces Cameron Carter-Vickers in the middle of defence, who played well against Iran. Berhalter chose the Celtic center-back because of his comfort and familiarity playing against low-block defences, but with the Dutch anticipated to have a possession edge and push the game to the Americans, Zimmerman is restored.
The US finished second in Group B and faced a group winner in the round of 16. The Netherlands were lethargic in possession and, except from Cody Gakpo, offered little threat in attack. Memphis Depay should start today after being totally fit all tournament.
US should respect but not fear Dutch attack. The U.S. is the only team in the World Cup to not have conceded from open play, so Zimmerman, Ream, Dest, and Robinson should feel secure.
Apart from Frenkie de Jong, the Netherlands are weak in midfield. Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Yunus Musah have been one of the tournament’s best midfields, and they’ll have a numbers edge.
In the Americans’ attacking third, the contest will be decided. The US has only scored two goals in Qatar and will face Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, and Ajax sensation Jurrien Timber.
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