Netherlands see off USA to reach World Cup quarter-finals

Netherlands became the first team through to the World Cup quarter-finals with an entertaining 3-1 victory over the USA.

Memphis Depay finished off a superb move to open the scoring in the 10th minute and Daley Blind made it two at Khalifa International Stadium just before half-time.

The US threatened a comeback when Haji Wright pulled one back in the 76th minute but Denzel Dumfries ensured it was the Dutch that progressed to the last eight with their third five minutes later.

Louis Van Gaal named an unchanged side from the one that beat Qatar in their final group match while Walker Zimmerman and Jesus Ferreira came in for the US.

Gregg Berhalter’s team made an excellent start and had a golden chance to take the lead in the third minute when Tyler Adams flicked the ball over the top for Christian Pulisic but Andries Noppert pulled off an excellent save.

All the attacking intent was coming from the US but Netherlands scored from their first real foray forward.

One of the best moves of the tournament saw the Dutch pass their way through their opponents in clinical fashion before Dumfries perfectly cut the ball back from wide on the right for the onrushing Depay, who swept it into the bottom corner.

The Dutch have been criticised at home for playing dull football and for the next half an hour, barring one shot fired well over the bar by Blind, they were content simply to keep their opponents at arm’s length.

The US finally tested Noppert again in the 43rd minute with a crisply struck shot from Timothy Weah from 22 yards but heading into stoppage time Netherlands doubled their advantage.

In a near copy of the first goal, Dumfries again played the ball in low from the right and this time it was Blind who stroked his shot into