Memphis Depay celebrates the Netherlands’ first goal against the USA.
Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images
DOHA, Qatar – The United States team had scored to get closer to 2-1 and the cry of “USA, USA!” resounded in the Khalifa International Stadium. But in the next attack from the Netherlands, inexplicably no one turned to see Denzel Dumfriesthe most prominent man in the match.
The full-back author of two passes for a goal in the first half asked for the ball from the far post without defender Antonee Robinson -or someone else- even looking back. The cross came to Dumfries and the Inter Milan winger finished off forcefully to score 3-1 who settled the first match of the round of 16 of Qatar 2022.
‘Team USA’ did not play well, especially in defense, with too many oversights. In addition, Christian Pulisic did not offer the best version of him, although he gave the pass for the American goal. The USA put up a fight, but trying to penetrate the Dutch defense is no easy task: they are tall, strong and know how to touch the ball. With this result, there are no more Concacaf teams in this World Cup.
Goals from the Netherlands in almost identical shots at 10′ and 46′ put the United States against the wall and faced a fast and easy-to-deploy squad in the second half. The challenge was clear: the USA to attack facing barriers of 5 defenders and 3 midfielders, as well as a very good goalkeeper, and the “Oranje” to counterattack with the long stride of their Cody Gakpo, Mephis Depay and a great Denzel Dumfries.
Haji Wright, who had just come on as a substitute, brought the US into the fray with a rare finish off a great pass from Pulisic at 76 minutes. The ball struck by Wright in the heart of the box rose above the defense and found the nets.
Two almost identical goals for the Netherlands in the first half
The Dutch team went ahead just on their first attacking move. After a quick combination in the middle of the field, the lanky full-back Denzel Dumfries was enabled by the right wing and launched a diagonal to where Memphis was arriving, who at first intention shot across and below to shake the nets.
That was the second goal allowed by the USA in the World Cup and the first in 198 minutes.
The United States claimed to have scored a dressing goal for the Europeans as Christian Pulisic received an excellent through ball in the 2nd minute, but the attacker’s free left-footed shot came off poorly and was blocked with his leg by goalkeeper Andries Noppert.
From then on, the United States had the ball and the Netherlands waited in order. The Americans had two good arrivals: a powerful shot from outside the box by Tim Weah that was well contained by the goalkeeper and a drift into the box by Dest, whose shot was blocked by a leg.
And then a key moment occurred. When the first half was about to end, the Netherlands found space after a hands-off and another great diagonal from Dumfries was finished off into the net by Daley Blind, who was only stared at by full-back Sergiño Dest after a serious mistake by the player of the AC Milan.
Coach Berhalter started with Matt Turner; Sergiño Dest, Walker Zimmerman, Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson; Capt. Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie; Jesus Ferreira, Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah.
Holland dated Andries Noppert; Jurrien Timber, Virgil Van Dijk and Nathan Ake; Davy Klaasen, Marten De Roon, Daley Blind, Frenkie De Jong and Denzel Dumfries; Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay.