The Netherlands will face Argentina or Australia, with both teams playing their Round of 16 match later in the day in the Round of 16. And it’s the end of the road for the young and energetic American team.
Depay put the Netherlands ahead in the 10th minute, before Blind doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time. After leading 0-2 at halftime, the United States scored in the 76th minute through Wright to cut the lead. But that didn’t last long for them with Dumfries assisting both of the Netherlands’ first-half goals sealing the game with an 81st-minute strike.
The Netherlands advance to the quarter-finals! 🇳🇱@adidasfootball | #Fifa World Cup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) 1670086398000
The Dutch had appeared to be comfortably in command of the first game of the round of 16 in front of 44,846 spectators with two goals scored in the same way as Dumfries crossed from the right for Depay to score the first in the 10th minute and then Blind on the spot . of halftime.
But Wright pulled back a goal to offer the Americans hope of a comeback.
It only lasted five minutes, however, before Dumfries sealed a man-of-the-match performance with his 81st-minute goal, fending off Blind’s cross from the left.
But despite their seventh World Cup quarter-final since 1974, it’s another Dutch performance at the Qatar World Cup that will not sit well with their demanding fans.
Quarter-final place: Confirmed ✅🇳🇱 How far can this team from the Netherlands go at the #FIFAWorldCup? https://t.co/KwBGeY7cdp
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) 1670087039000
They were unusually cautious at times, played at a slow pace, and lived dangerously granting the Americans plenty of possession.
Still, they still looked a bit better than their opponents.
Cody Gakpo and Dumfries cleared the line in the second half and goalkeeper Andries Noppert made several saves to keep a clean sheet as the Netherlands extended their unbeaten run since Louis van Gaal returned as manager last year at 19 games.
The Dutch survived an early scare when Christian Pulisic was left free and wide with just the goalkeeper to beat but World Cup tallest man Noppert stretched his right leg to deny a first shock.
The response from the Netherlands was quick. A slick streak of 20 ended with Dumfries squareing the ball from the right, heading it back into the path of Depay, who delayed his run into the American penalty area and went unmarked as he was hitting the first game.
The future is bright ✨🇺🇸 We’ll see a lot more @USMNT in the future
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) 1670087365000
The spirited start was quickly replaced by a more languid stretch of play, with the Dutch sitting around waiting for counter-attacking opportunities.
This presented an opportunity for the Americans with Noppert forced to save again from Timothy Weah’s shot and Sergio Dest piercing the defense but unable to get the ball out from under his feet and missing a good chance towards the end of the first half.
Those missed chances were quickly punished when the Dutch broke down the right again and scored a carbon copy of the opening goal when Dumfries pulled his cross in for 32-year-old left-back Daley Blind to score in his 98th international.
Depay broke away after the break and looked set to give substitute Steven Bergwijn the chance to make it 3-0 but played in a bad run, followed by an American raid at the other end where Gakpo denied Tim Ream up close.
Dumfries was in the right place to deny Wright in the 75th minute but could do little against the American goal as Pulisic’s cross hit Wright in the heel and the ball looped into the net.
But in the end, Dumfries proved decisive as the Dutch moved on to their next challenge against Argentina or Australia in the last eight next Friday.
(With agency contributions)
