Denzel Dumfries got himself a goal and two assists as he starred in Holland's 3-1 win over the USA helping his country to become the first side to book their place in the Quarter-Finals of the World Cup.
Holland named an unchanged starting eleven from the side which secured qualification in their last Group A match on Tuesday night with a 2-0 win over Qatar. The USA only made two changes to the side which beat Iran in the last round of group matches. Zimmermann came back in defence for Carter-Vickers and Ferreira comes in for Norwich City striker Josh Sargent who suffered an injury in that win on Tuesday night.
The first chance of the game came just three minutes in as a loose ball bounced through to Christian Pulisic who found himself with all the time in the world and one on one with Noppert. He rushed the shot and bounced it into the ground but still managed to get it on target but Noppert made a good save to keep the score line level.
Holland took the lead just ten minutes into the game through Memphis Depay as he finished off a stunning team move from the Dutch. Some lovely passing in the midfield worked the ball to Gakpo who played it out to Dumfries who played a low ball into the box which Depay swept into the bottom corner first time to finish off a sensational move.
The rest of the second half was a strange one as Holland sat back more while the USA didn’t know what to do when they had possession of the ball so the half drew to a pretty dull end. Holland had played some nice football when they had moved the ball forward but it was Musah who had the one of the last chances of the half as a thunderous shot was saved well by Noppert.
However, just seconds before the half time whistle blew, the Dutch doubled their lead as just like the first goal Dumfries played the ball right across the area and this time it was Blind on it at the back post to make it two nil to Holland.
Holland were firmly in control of the second half and almost made it three nil just after the hour mark as Depay had a shot from just outside the area tipped over the bar from Matt Turner.
Just fifteen minutes from the end of the game, the USA got a goal back to give the game a much-needed spark as Pulisic found himself in some space on the left wing. He put a low ball into the box which the substitute Wright flicked with his back to goal over Van Dijk and into the back of the net. Whether he meant it or not it was a stunning goal which set up a grandstand finish to the contest.
However just five minutes later, Holland ended any hope that the US had as Dumfries fired home from close range as he got on the end of a brilliant Blind cross to book the Dutch’s place in the Quarter-Final places.
That’s the way the game finished with Holland walking out 3-1 winners and booking their place in the Quarter-Finals on Friday where they will play the winners of the Australia vs Argentina match which takes place later tonight.