USA vs. Netherlands: Score and Twitter Reaction from 2015 Friendly
The United States men's national team managed to upset the Netherlands, 4-3, in Amsterdam on Friday in its first European friendly in preparation for the upcoming Gold Cup, scoring twice in the final minutes to turn a one-goal deficit into a win.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (two goals) and Memphis Depay had given the Dutch a 3-1 lead, with American Gyasi Zardes scoring his first-ever international goal in the 34th minute. John Brooks and Daniel Williams brought their team back alongside the hosts, and Bobby Wood shocked the home crowd with a late winner.
Speaking before the match, manager Jurgen Klinsmann told reporters he believed his team was ready for results after he spent the previous few years molding the squad into the side he had in mind, per U.S. Soccer:
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However, the Netherlands came out with plenty of energy and nearly took the lead just minutes into the match. Robin van Persie beautifully serviced Daryl Janmaat, whose shot flew straight at Brad Guzan.
The quick start didn't last, though, and soon enough, the Stars and Stripes started to find their footing. Michael Bradley won the midfield battle against Jordy Clasie, and he also had the team's first shot on goal after 10 minutes.
Zardes nearly opened his international scoring account after dreadful defending from the Netherlands, but like Janmaat, he failed to put the ball either side of the goalkeeper from an excellent position.
Somehow, the visitors didn't take the lead when both Bradley and Fabian Johnson hit the post during the same attack. And minutes later, they paid the price for their lack of efficiency. Huntelaar found himself on the end of a great cross from Depay, and as noted by Planet Futbol, the veteran striker didn't miss:
FootyLiveGoals provided footage of the fine header:
"Huntelaar https://t.co/FrCGVTsD7n
— GOAL (@FootyLiveGoals) June 5, 2015"
The goal came as a shock, as the visitors were far and away the better team at the time, but Depay once again showed his quality, and Huntelaar needs few chances.
But the setback also seemed to shake the Yanks out of their funk in front of goal, and six minutes later, the two sides were level. Johnson lifted a great ball for Zardes, who timed his run beautifully and poked home the easy finish, per Goal's Ives Galarcep:
Here's the goal, courtesy of FutbollVines:
"Zardes equalises for USA. Ned 1-1 USA https://t.co/ZAmo84U5Gl
— Footy Vines (@FutbollVines) June 5, 2015"
The pace of the match only quickened following the strike, with chances then coming in quick succession. Most fell to the Dutch, who should have been up 2-1 when Depay broke through on goal. Instead of finishing himself, the youngster decided to lay the ball to Van Persie, giving Kyle Beckerman time to rush in and provide a pivotal block.
An apparent foul during the buildup denied Georginio Wijnaldum a goal, although replays suggested there was little wrong with the action. The score remained 1-1 going into halftime after a very entertaining first half.
NBC Sports' Kyle Lynch noted Depay was the best man on the pitch and provided nearly all of the Dutch danger:
It was definitely a great first half for the USA, but the team's start to the second half was a disaster. Huntelaar gave the hosts the lead back with another header, and just four minutes later, his shot took a deflection off Depay and flew past Guzan, making the score 3-1.
Lynch was fairly certain that wasn't what Klinsmann had in mind during halftime:
Here are the two goals:
"Huntelaar2 https://t.co/nVtXGLkvFX
— GOAL (@FootyLiveGoals) June 5, 2015"
"Huntelaar3 https://t.co/RIXlnNLiiQ
— GOAL (@FootyLiveGoals) June 5, 2015"
The Stars and Stripes had no answers, struggling for creativity in the attacking third. Beckerman gave stopper Jasper Cillessen a slight scare with a shot from range, but other than that, the Dutch defense survived comfortably.
On the other side of the pitch, the Dutch were toying with the USA back line, who seemed to panic every time a cross was launched into the box. With the towering Huntelaar always lurking, defenders simply didn't know where to look.
Out of nowhere, Zardes nearly pulled one back, but Cillessen made an excellent save with his legs to deny him his second goal. Danny Williams initiated the chance, and Galarcep liked the 26-year-old's immediate contribution:
The visitors started pushing for another goal, and Brooks found redemption for the aerial duels he lost to Huntelaar by scoring on a quick break after a nice ball from DeAndre Yedlin.
The goal:
"Brooks #usmnt https://t.co/itYZKhS4KU
— GOAL (@FootyLiveGoals) June 5, 2015"
A number of substitutions saw the pace of the match drop significantly, allowing the Netherlands to keep the ball far away from its goal.
Luuk de Jong nearly scored a fourth for the hosts near the end of the match, as Johnson kicked the ball straight into the PSV man, only to see it bounce off the post.
Under new manager Guus Hiddink, the Dutch have been rather shocking on the defensive end, and Friday's performance will only make his seat a little hotter. The U.S. managed to score twice in the span of two minutes, with both Williams and Wood finding the back of the net, courtesy of some shambolic defending:
"Williams https://t.co/3Bmt1X1CRo
— GOAL (@FootyLiveGoals) June 5, 2015"
"— GOAL (@FootyLiveGoals) June 5, 2015"
To say Dutch Football was a little disappointed would be an understatement:
"FT Netherlands 3-4 USA unbelievable. Another shocking defensive performance under Hiddink.
— Dutch Football (@football_oranje) June 5, 2015"
The result is a fantastic one for the U.S., who had never beaten the Netherlands until Friday's match. The Dutch may only be a shell of the team that finished the 2014 World Cup in third place, but it's still a performance to be proud of.
The U.S. is playing these friendlies with an eye on the upcoming Gold Cup, which begins on July 7, and while there are plenty of positives to take away from Friday's clash―Bradley's performance in particular stands out―there's a lot of work left to be done.
The team's set-piece defending was horrendous, as was the defensive positioning every time a cross came in. Those issues will have to be resolved as soon as possible, with the next friendly right around the corner. On Wednesday, June 10, the Yanks will face world champions Germany in Cologne.
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