FIFA WORLD-CUP QATAR 2022 (SMI-SPORTS-NOV. 20- DEC. 18, 2022)-The Netherlands national soccer team defeated Team USA 3-1, in the round of 16, advancing to the quarter-final rounds of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

 

With the victory, the Dutch team who are world-ranked#8 and one of the favorites to win the world cup Qatar 2022, eliminated the US from the tournament, and moves onto next round to face the winner between Argentina or Australia next Friday Dec. 09, 2:00pm at Lusail Stadium, in Qatar.

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The US who qualified with the second youngest roster to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,

outperformed the Netherlands in every stats including 8-6, shots of goal but could not take advantage of the goal opportunities giving by Dutch team during the entire game.

 

US team went to attack from the start and on their first counter-attack top-striker Christian Pulisic missed a clear opportunity to open the score for Stars and Stripes

when he received a perfect pass from Tyler Adams inside the box and shot a left footed bouncing-off Dutch's goalkeeper Andries Noppert left leg to the side field at 02:53. 

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The Netherlands who finished first undefeated in Group A, had six clear shot on goal and scored three goals in the game.This is what world-ranked teams do when they are giving opportunities to score and take advantage of young teams like in this case Team USA.

 

The Dutch team also known as " The Orange Machine ", opened the score first during a counter-attack through the middle, Striker Cody Gakpo passed the ball to right-side field corner to defender Denzel Dumfries who immediately crossed a rolling pass inside the 18' to Memphis Depay who was coming on a run and shot a right-footed that ended in the back of the net to put the Netherlands 1-0, over the US at 09:32', very early in the first half. 

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In another clear chance for team USA to score, US striker Timothy Weah kicked a long shot from 25-Yards aiming directly to the Dutch's goal but it bounced off goalkeeper hands to the side.

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With the clock winding down in the first half, the Dutch team increased their lead with a similar counter-attack scenario through the right-side field, defender Dumfries crossed a rolling pass inside the penalty area to defender Daley Blind who kicked a right-footed to make  2-0, for the Netherlands over US at 45+1 at the half. 

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In the second half after numerous counter-attack, the US scored its first goal to cut the deficit 2-1, at 75' minute. US Striker Christian Pulisic through the right-side field corner ran with the ball inside the 18' and crossed it to Haji Dwight who scored off deflection of his right-foot that ended in the back of net to reduce the Dutch lead 2-1, over the US.

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"The Orange Machine " answered back five minute later with their third goal to make it 3-1, at 80' with the game clock winding down. The Netherlands in another counter-attack through the left-side field, defender Daley Blind centered a perfect pass to Densel Dumfries who was wide-open inside the penalty area and scored with a left-footed to seal the victory of 3-1, of the Netherlands over the US.

 

With the win, the Dutch team advances to the quarterfinal rounds of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,  to face the winner of Argentina vs Australia to be played next Friday December 09, 2022 at 14:00(ET/US) at Lusail Stadium, in Qatar.

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