Netherlands vs USA, Round of 16, FIFA World Cup 2022
Dumfries stars in the Netherlands vs USA which was the first round of 16 match in FIFA World cup 2022 with a goal and two assists as USMNT are knocked out of the tournament.
The first Round of 16 match in the FIFA World Cup 2022 – Netherlands vs USA- started with an exciting match at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
The US started the game positively with active passing and it seemed that the underdogs have a really good chance to beat the Dutch.
The first chance for USMNT came in the 3rd minute itself when Pullisic got the ball in the box with no one else to defend than Noppert who finally managed to block any chance of a goal. It was a golden opportunity missed by Pulisic which would haunt him for the rest of the match.
However, in the 10th minute, Netherlands displayed an elegant display of football having shared 20 uninterrupted passes between them and finally letting Dumfries march ahead on the right side of the box.
Subsequently, a clinical pullback from him gave an opportunity to Depay who was unmarked by the USMNT defence. Depay netted the first goal for the Netherlands with a side foot from inside the box.
20 – Memphis Depay's goal ended a sequence of 20 uninterrupted passes, the most on record for a Netherlands goal at the World Cup (1966 onwards). Total. pic.twitter.com/fQU2N0EDxy
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 3, 2022
Depay who has been on a phenomenal run for his country scored his 26th goal in his last 29 games for the Netherlands.
The only chance of fightback that one saw from USMNT in the first half was in the 43rd minute when Weah shot a bullet towards Noppert who saved it.
Just after two minutes of Koopmeiners getting the first yellow of the game when he picked Pulisic, the Dutch broke the USA defence once more and soon Deeply was able to send a dipping shot but Turner was quick to tip it over the goal post.
In the 67th minute, Weah and McKennie were replaced by Aaronson and Wright.
The brilliance of the USA no. 1 Turner was clearly on display as he saved a double shot on the target by the Dutch. First Blind’s fast low shot from the edge of the box and then Depay’s header from a very close range.
Just when it seemed that the US was going down this knock-out game, Pulisic finds space on the right side and crosses it towards Wright who somehow makes the ball loop into the goalpost quite strangely.
But the Netherlands was soon back in the game putting in yet another goal in the 83rd Minute. Dumfries marches ahead unmarked on the right side when Blind passes an accurate cross to him which he easily converts into the Netherlands’ third goal.
After this, the USMNT just could not come up with a reply till the match concluded.
The Netherlands progressed ahead in the competition making it their fifth pass in the last six round of 16 phases.
Also See: Argentina Round of 16 Match predictions
