United States World Cup Dream Ends Against The Dutch

SALT LAKE CITY – The United States World Cup dream has ended in the Round of 16 following a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands.

Interestingly, USA manager Gregg Berhalter made two changes from the 1-0 victory against Iran by bringing Walker Zimmerman back into the starting XI for Cameron Carter-Vickers and replacing Josh Sargent with Jesus Ferreira at the point of the attack.

United States World Cup Dream Ends

The United States began the fixture with momentum and looked to be the more dominant team. United States star Christian Pulisic failed to convert a one on one opportunity as the Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert stopped the attempt with his left leg.

Shortly thereafter the Dutch played themselves into the game and capitalized on a counter attack when Memphis Depay got on the end of a cross and buried his right footed shot past Matt Turner and into the back of the net.

The game continued to be played in passages of momentum, the USA generated multiple goal scoring opportunities but let themselves down with their final touch.

In the final minute of the opening half the Dutch found a second goal when 32-year-old midfielder Daley Blind scored an eerily similar goal to Depay. Blind finished on his nonprefferered right foot as Turner watched the ball sail past him and into the back of the net.

Berhalter went to his bench at halftime and took Ferreira off for Gio Reyna. The change sparked life back into the United States. More moves were made by Berhalter as he introduced Haji Wright and Brenden Aaronson.

The US found their breakthrough in the 76th minute when Wright got on the end of a low cross that trickled into the far corner of the net.

A Frustrating Fixture

The goal provided the United States with all of the momentum and the Red, White, and Blue looked to be pushing for an equalizer.

However, the dagger came from the Dutch in the 81st minute when Denzel Dumfries was left all alone at the back post and calmly tapped the ball past Turner into the far corner of the net.

The United States World Cup dream ended at the hands of the Netherlands in the Round of 16. The last time the United States made it past the Round of 16 and into the quarter-finals was in 2002 at the Korea-Japan World Cup. The best World Cup finish for the United States occurred in 1930 at the Uruguay World Cup when they made it all the way to the semi-finals.

Despite the result, it was an impressive tournament for the United States. Entering the tournament, the US was the second-youngest team in the tournament and the youngest team to qualify for the knockout rounds.