Denzel Dumfries provided identical assists to Memphis Depay and Daley Blind as Netherlands hit USA with first half sucker-punch.USA threatened to stage a comeback when Haji Wright scored an astonishing goal, but Dumfries’ volley put the result beyond doubt.Netherlands progress to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of Argentina vs Australia.
🇺🇸 USA had its opportunities but it's 🇳🇱 Netherlands who advance to the #Qatar2022 Quarter-finals!
See #USA v #NED highlights on FIFA+
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 3, 2022
Netherlands survived a temporary scare as they swept past USA to book their place in the quarter-final.
USA actually started the brighter of the two sides; Christian Pulisic could have opened the scoring just a couple of minutes into the match, denied by Andries Noppert after racing onto a cute ball over the Dutch defence.
But Netherlands responded in style, scoring one of the silkiest goals of Qatar 2022 so far. Playing out from defence, the Oranje used one-and-two-touch passes to work the ball out to Denzel Dumfries on the right ring, whose pullback was inch-perfect for Memphis Depay to sweep home.
The Americans, perhaps expecting Netherlands to open up and attack a little more, looked lacking in ideas as the Dutch happily sat in and frustrated the USA forward players.
Biding their time paid off as, with just seconds left to play in the first half, Dumfries pulled a ball back to almost the exact same spot as he did for the opener; this time it was Blind who was grateful for the chance to find the far corner.
After the restart, Tim Ream had an effort cleared off the line on his 50th appearance for USA and, at the other end, Matt Turner also prevented a seemingly certain goal – initially saving Teun Koopmeiners’ shot, the goalkeeper was quick to his feet to complete the double save from Depay’s close-range header.
However, it was the Americans who truly relit the fire in this game. Following a corner won by Haji Wright, it was the forward himself who profited – scoring a truly astonishing goal. Meeting Pulisic’s low cross, Wright flicked the ball from the near post, up and over the defence and goalkeeper, with the ball eventually dropping into the far corner of the net.
It seemed like USA had life in them yet, but the day’s star performer, Denzel Dumfries, guided a beautiful left foot volley into the net from Blind’s cross – returning the favour from earlier – to kill the comeback.
Memphis Depay moved clear of Klaas Jan Huntelaar to become Netherlands’ second top goal scorer of all time. His goal came at the end of a 20-goal move, which is the highest amount of uninterupted passes leading to a World Cup goal in the country’s history.
With one goal and two assists, Denzel Dumfries is one of three players to be directly involved in 3+ goals in a single World Cup match for the Netherlands, after Rob Rensenbrink (twice in 1978) and Johan Cruijff (in 1974).
Louis van Gaal is unbeaten as Netherlands coach since returning in 2021 (19 games).
He’s also never lost a World Cup match excluding shootouts.
Player of the Match:Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)
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