USA defender Walker Zimmerman (#3) fights for the ball with Netherlands’ ahead Memphis Depay throughout the 2022 World Cup spherical of 16 match at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Saturday.

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USA defender Walker Zimmerman (#3) fights for the ball with Netherlands’ ahead Memphis Depay throughout the 2022 World Cup spherical of 16 match at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Saturday.

Jewel Samad/AFP by way of Getty Images

AL RAYYAN, Qatar — The U.S. run at the 2022 World Cup has ended after the Netherlands defeated the U.S. 3-1 within the round of 16.

The United States had by no means trailed on this match — with attracts towards Wales and England and the defeat of Iran in group play. But within the knockout stage — the place groups should win or go dwelling — none of that mattered.

Christian Pulisic had a golden opportunity to place the U.S. on the board early towards the Netherlands. In the third minute, he was one-on-one with the towering Dutch goalkeeper however could not get it by the 6-foot-8 Andries Noppert.

It was the Netherlands that scored first. In the tenth minute, Memphis Depay powered a volley past the outstretched arms of U.S. keeper Matt Turner. The tenor of the sport then modified. The Netherlands slowed the tempo and dropped gamers into the backfield to clog up the U.S. offense.

The U.S. deficit bought even greater when the Netherlands scored once more — simply moments earlier than the top of the primary half in stoppage time. In an virtually carbon copy of the primary objective, a Dutch move throughout the objective field discovered the suitable foot of Daley Blind who booted it by Turner to double the Dutch result in 2-0 at halftime.

USA midfielder Weston McKennie reacts to a missed probability throughout the World Cup spherical of 16 match towards the Netherlands on Saturday.

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USA midfielder Weston McKennie reacts to a missed probability throughout the World Cup spherical of 16 match towards the Netherlands on Saturday.

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Definitely a distinct really feel from the U.S. group stage matches. At each the crowds generated an depth stage that was off the charts. Especially the match against Iran the place the din at kickoff made the group of 42,000 sound twice that measurement. But on Saturday at Khalifa International Stadium, the smaller crowd generated a lot much less fan voltage.

The U.S. began the second half with power, depth and several other objective probabilities. And, within the 76th minute, the U.S. discovered a approach to rating. Pulisic despatched a cross in entrance of the Dutch objective and it ricocheted off Haji Wright to sail into the online.

The momentum for the U.S. didn’t final lengthy. In the 81st minute, Denzel Dumfries was left huge open in entrance of the U.S. objective and he powered the ball past Turner to make it 3-1.

The U.S. could not capitalize because the Dutch midfielders and defenders stifled the American offense — mixed with the U.S. missed alternatives. “This is a difficult one to handle,” mentioned USA head coach Gregg Berhalter in a post-match interview on Fox. “We came up short today but not for lack of trying or lack of effort.”

The Netherlands entered this match towards the United States on its longest unbeaten streak on the World Cup. The Dutch had not misplaced their final 10 video games (seven wins and three attracts).

This was the fifth time the U.S. had made it into the spherical of 16 on the World Cup. They’d solely received once before — beating Mexico in 2002 to advance to the quarterfinals (the U.S. made it to the semifinals of the inaugural World Cup in 1930 when solely 13 groups competed).

The United States will co-host the 2026 World Cup and defender Walker Zimmerman says their play this yr strikes this system ahead and reveals the potential. “This World Cup showed that attacking talent – showed that fight – a lot of American fans can look at and be proud of. The way that we played. The way that we went about our work. We’ll be back bigger than ever.”

The Netherlands will play Argentina within the quarterfinals on Friday.

Tom Goldman reported from Al Rayyan, Qatar, and Russell Lewis reported from Birmingham, Ala.