With a brutal show of finishing, the Netherlands overcame a late scare against the United States to advance into the quarterfinals of the Fifa World Cup. Christian Pulisic's attempt to score for the US was stopped by the legs of Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert, and the failure to capitalise on that opportunity cost the US dearly.
Memphis Depay completed a wonderful 21-pass move for Louis van Gaal's team in the 10th minute, capping it off by turning in Denzel Dumfries' cross in the best Dutch fashion. The US put up a valiant fight, but they lacked a cutting edge, and they were punished similarly with the last kick of the first half, as Daley Blind came in at the ideal moment to finish another Dumfries cutback.
When Haji Wright's bizarre deflection of Pulisic's cross went in at the far post in the 76th minute, the US scored to give the Dutch cause for concern. Five minutes later, though, they regained a two-goal advantage when Dumfries, the game's playmaker, converted a volley from Blind's cross by sidefooting it in at the far post.