(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The big “knockout” punch thrown by the Netherlands, against the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team could be heard around the globe, witnessed by the millions in the host country of Qatar and millions upon millions more in every corner of the world. The 2nd stage of the World Cup began with a bristling (3-1) Netherlands victory over Team U.S.A. and earned themselves another step forward in FIFA’s 2022 World Cup Qatar.

[Match Preview]: The Dutch were the top finishers in Group A, with a (2-0-1=7 points) record in pool play. The winner of this match would move onto the quarterfinals round next to face the winner of Argentina vs. Australia. Team USA, Group B’s 2nd place finishers with (1-0-2=5 points ) record, was the second-youngest team in this Cup’s play.

On paper, the match was positioned in the minds and hearts of soccer fans, enthusiasts, and many experts as one that could be a “toss-up,” but the real-time favorite, was the Netherlands, Oranje, due to their outstanding track record in the last three World Cup competitions. On the other hand, Team USA, as mentioned, had many young players who had never appeared in the World Cup, therefore lack of experience could hamper their chances of going very far in this FIFA 2022 World Cup-Qatar. A final bit of good news and good luck came to Team USA when #10/Christian Pulisic made a great and a fast recovery from his injury to join the line-up as a starter. The site of this match was Khalifa International Stadium.

–Match Summary–

[1st Half]: The Netherlands struck first gold at minute (10:00), on a power play fast-break goal by Memphis Depay, who took the assist in the middle of the box, and then slammed the sphere past the U.S. goalkeeper, Matt Turner. Denzel Dumfries was credited with the first of his two match assists. As the clock wore on, Team USA battled back but could not cash in on several opportunities that came their way. With just over two minutes remaining the half, Tim Weah took good aim after a clearance, but the Dutch goalkeeper, Andries Noppert made a great diving effort to knock it away. Then, in stoppage play +1, Daley Blind, took another Dumfries pass and struck second gold from 12 yards out, for a comfortable (2-0) lead going into the locker for the half-time intermission.

[Halftime Score]: Netherlands  2  USA   0

[2nd Half]: At minute (49:00) Tim Ream nearly put Team USA onto the scoreboard when he captured a corner kick from Christian Pulisic and delivered a “header,” only to have it cleared by an Oranje defender. But the U.S. stayed in the hunt with their persistence and at minute (76:00), Haji Wright took a low cross from Pulisic and somehow, yet skillfully looped it with a right-footed and “back-heeled” touch that sailed with soccer-type “English” just making it to the inside of the far post for the goal. The scoreboard now read Netherlands 2, USA 1.

At minute (81:00), the Netherlands lighted the scoreboard for their third and final goal of the match when a great returning of an earlier favor in the match was accomplished by Blind, on his great crosser, that was sent to an unguarded Dumfries for his left-footed “back breaking” score that authorized the official 2022 World Cup record book to annotate—Blind with the assist, and Dumfries for the goal.

[Fulltime Score]: Netherlands  3  USA  1  

[Closing Thoughts]: This was a very painful loss for Team USA, but it was the “knockout punch” that needed to be avoided because it instantly marked the end of their run in this much-heralded and promoted 2022 FIFA 2022 World Cup-Qatar. The brief time we were able to enjoy viewing our U.S. Men’s National Team and supporting its overall efforts, from the coaching of Gregg Berhalter down to the full roster of players, its success or lack thereof, will continue to be a top subject of discussion and criticism. Whether it be negative or constructive in nature, it has already begun and should last all the way through to the “build-up” and eventual selection of the 2026 World Cup/North America Team that will begin very soon.

[Fulltime Score]: Netherlands  3  USA  1  

[Next Up]: Netherlands vs. Argentina Quarterfinal Match, Friday, December 9th, 8:00 AM | PT at Lusail Iconic Stadium. How To Watch: FOX, Telemundo, FOXsports.com, & Peacock