America’s hopes of advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals for the primary time since 2002 went up in smoke in a 3-1 defeat towards the Netherlands — and the Yanks watching on at dwelling weren’t pleased.
The Dutch had been within the driver’s seat from the outset and first half strikes to Memphis Depay and Daley Blind left little question about the place this recreation was heading.
The USA did have a glimpse of hope when Haji Wright scored within the 76th minute however it lasted precisely 5 minutes as Denzel Dumfries was left unmarked and completed with ease to make it 3-1.
Depay opened proceedings within the tenth minute, finishing an distinctive workforce objective that started deep within the Dutch defence and included seven of their gamers touching the ball within the lead-up.
It was rightly hailed as one of many objectives of the match.
However there was fast finger-pointing at US gamers who didn’t observe again with a way of urgency becoming for the event — and the People had been accused of falling asleep once more when Blind put the Dutch 2-0 up in first half damage time.
It was a painful lesson in ending for the People.
Though the USA loved lengthy durations of possession in a vibrant first-half show, all too usually a scarcity of composure within the last third allow them to down.
As an alternative it was the Dutch who calmly bided their time earlier than carving open the People with forensic precision.
USA ahead Christian Pulisic squandered a golden likelihood to place his workforce 1-0 up after solely three minutes, when he discovered himself in house solely to see a scuffed shot saved by Andries Noppert.
Buoyed by that early likelihood, the US remained on the entrance foot, attacking excessive up the sector.
However on 10 minutes the Netherlands took the lead. Excellent interaction in midfield noticed the ball labored to Inter Milan’s Dumfries down the suitable.
Dumfries picked out Depay, who swept dwelling the end to cap an impressive 20-pass transfer that was in the most effective traditions of the Netherlands’ complete footballing heritage.
Once more the People superior purposefully into Dutch territory by means of Pulisic, just for the Chelsea participant to ship a cross that fell behind his US teammates.
Tim Weah had the most effective American likelihood of the rest of the half on 43 minutes, letting fly with a rasping shot that Noppert parried away.
However in first half stoppage time, the Netherlands delivered the hammer blow. Dumfries once more discovered house down the suitable and drilled a cross to Blind, who had ghosted away from Sergino Dest, for an emphatic low end.
The Netherlands almost prolonged their lead early within the second half when Dumfries’ low cross was prodded in the direction of the US objective by defender Walker Zimmerman, forcing a sensible save from Matt Turner.
USA coach Gregg Berhalter launched Gio Reyna for the ineffective Jesus Ferreira in assault at halftime in an effort to offer a sharper leading edge.
The Borussia Dortmund participant made an instantaneous impression after establishing a shot for Weston McKennie that sailed over the bar.
Berhalter introduced on Haji Wright for McKennie halfway by means of the second half and the transfer sparked a fleeting revival.
After seeing a goal-bound likelihood cleared on the close to publish on 75 minutes, Wright scored a minute later when his flick from Pulisic’s cross looped over Noppert into the Dutch internet for 2-1.
But the American fightback was short-lived. Within the 81st minute one other Dutch assault pulled the USA defence out of place, and Blind calmly crossed to an unmarked Dumfries on the far publish, who made it 3-1.
The consequence made a mockery of US president Joe Biden’s assured pre-match declaration.
“It’s known as soccer,” Biden mentioned in a video message. “Go USA. You guys are gonna do it.”
— with AFP
