SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 3PM
NETHERLANDS (2) 3
(Depay10, Blind 45+1, Dumfries 81)
UNITED STATES (0) 1
(Wright 76)
Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan Att: 44,846 Ref: Sampaio
NETHERLANDS Noppert; Dumfries, Timber, Van Dijk, Ake (De Ligt 90+3), Blind; De Roon (Bergwijn 46), F. De Jong, Klaassen (Koopmeiners 46); Gakpo (Weghorst 90+3), Depay (Simons 83).
Koopmeiners, F. De Jong
UNITED STATES Turner; Dest (Yedlin 75), Zimmerman, Ream, Robinson (Morris 90+2); Musah, Adams, McKennie (Wright 67); Weah (Aaronson 67), Ferreira (Reyna 46), Pulisic.
GOALS
1-0 The Dutch patiently and precisely construct a sweeping move of 20 passes. The ball is worked to the right flank, where Denzel Dumfries cuts it back for Memphis Depay to thump home.
2-0 In a carbon-copy of his assist for the first goal, Dumfries puts in another daisy-cutter cross, which left-back Daley Blind meets with a firm right-footed finish.
2-1 Christian Pulisic, free on the right, crosses low into the box and, in the most bizarre of finishes, sub Haji Wright somehow manages to send the ball looping into the net.
3-1 Blind crosses to the far post, where Dumfries, as free as a bird, volleys in with his weaker left foot.
CANNY DUTCH PICK OFF THE US
boss Louis van Gaal would have felt thoroughly vindicated on the final whistle. Throughout the group phase, many in the Dutch media were quick to slam Van Gaal and his side, accusing them of sloppiness, a lack of fluidity and putting functionality ahead of entertainment value. Here was the response, an excellent team performance in which the Netherlands outclassed the United States on the technical front, and controlled both the match rhythm and its emotional temperature. A frustrating encounter all round for the US, who despite having plenty of the ball and creating their share of goalscoring chances –
