Doha: Denzel Dumfries arrange the primary two targets and netted a decisive third to make sure a 3-1 victory for the Netherlands over the USA on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium on Saturday and a spot within the World Cup quarterfinals, thwarting their opponents efforts at a late comeback.
Dumfries ended any hopes the People had of staging a rescue act after they’d gone 2-0 down at half-time. The USA had fought again to cut back the deficit via Haji Wright within the 76th minute.
The Dutch had comfortably accountable for the opening Spherical of 16 tie in entrance of 44,846 spectators with two targets scored in related trend as Dumfries crossed from the fitting for Depay to internet first within the tenth minute, after which Blind on the stroke of half-time.
However Wright pulled a aim again to supply the People hope of a comeback.
Dutch gamers have fun their second aim. Picture: Reuters/Matthew Childs
That lasted solely 5 minutes, nonetheless, earlier than Dumfries sealed a man-of-the-match perormance together with his 81st-minute aim, tucking away Blind’s cross from the left.
However regardless of advancing to their seventh World Cup quarterfinal since 1974, it was one other Dutch efficiency on the Qatar World Cup that won’t please their demanding supporters.
They have been unsually cautious at occasions, performed at a gradual tempo, and lived dangerously as they allowed the People loads of possession.But they nonetheless regarded a notch higher than their opponents.
Cody Gakpo and Dumfries cleared off the road within the second half and goalkeeper Andries Noppert made a number of saves to because the Netherlands prolonged their unbeaten run since Louis van Gaal returned as coach final 12 months to 19 video games.
The Dutch survived an early scare when Christian Pulisic discovered himself free, and onside, with simply the goalkeeper to beat however Noppert, the tallest man on the World Cup, caught out his proper leg to disclaim a shock opener.
Netherlands followers on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium in Doha. Picture: Reuters/Annegret Hilse
The response from the Netherlands was swift. A sequence of 20 slick passes ended with Dumfries squaring the ball from proper, pulling it again into the trail of Depay, who delayed his run into the American penalty field and was unmarked as he smacked dwelling the opener.
The full of life begin was rapidly changed with a extra languid passage of play, the Dutch sitting again as they waited for counter assault possibilities.That offered alternative for the People with Noppert pressured to avoid wasting once more from Timothy Weahs driving shot and Sergio Dest breaking via the defence however unable to get the ball out from below his ft and lacking a great alternative close to the top of the primary half.
These missed alternatives have been swiftly punished as Dutch broke once more down the fitting and scored a carbon copy of the primary aim when Dumfries pulled again his cross for 32-year-old left again Daley Blind to attain in his 98th worldwide.
Depay broke away after the break and regarded odds-on to offer substitute Steven Bergwijn with the possibility to make it 3-0 however performed in a poor cross, adopted by an American raid up the opposite finish the place Gakpo denied Tim Ream from shut vary.
Dumfries was in the fitting place to disclaim Wright within the seventy fifth minute however may do little concerning the American aim as Pulisic’s cross hit Wright on the heel and the ball looped into the web.
However ultimately Dumfries proved decisive for the Dutch to maneuver on to their subsequent problem in opposition to both Argentina or Australia within the final eight subsequent Friday.