In the fierce World Cup Round of 16 match between the Netherlands and the United States of America, the Dutch team was like a beacon of fire. With the outstanding play of Tibby and Daley Blind, the Dutch team set up a victory in the first half and took the lead with a score of 3-1 to advance to the Round of 8. Amazingly, both Digby and Daley Brandt are former Manchester United castoffs, and Dutch team leader Younger, the famous former Manchester United coach known as "The Abbot," was in Qatar to witness the victory.
Prior to the match, the Netherlands had been plagued by the flu, with a number of players contracting the infection, but fortunately the starting lineup wasn't affected too much, with core players such as Diby, Gap, Karachen, and Frankie Dijon all being able to play; the U.S. team took a 433 formation, with Gisdian Plessy leading the way, and Timofee Weah and Jetsis Ferrara serving as the attackers.
Just two minutes into the match, the U.S. had a good chance to score when Gisdian Plessy broke through offside and took a one-touch shot that Dutch goalkeeper Lubitsch saved in time to give the Dutch a lucky escape. Then, in the 10th minute, the Dutch team quickly counterattacked, Dufus right pass, Diaby shot the goal, the Netherlands 1-0 lead.
The Dutch "master tactician" Younger adopted a steady counter-attack strategy in this game, letting the U.S. team control the ball and attack, while relying on their own solid defense to withstand the pressure, and once the counter-attack will be a deadly blow. Throughout the first half, the Dutch team's possession rate was only 36%, but in stoppage time, an out-of-bounds play on the right, Dufus cross, Daley Blount scored the second goal, extending the score to 2-0.
In the second half, the situation was still very much the same, the Netherlands continued to defend and counterattack, replacing players such as Beyoncé and Goupoumenas, while the United States replaced Giovanni Reyna and Sharjee Hooley to seek for a counterattack. In the 74th minute, Sharjee Hooley's one-timer from a narrow angle was parried away by a defender, and two minutes later, Sharjee Hooley fired another shot off a cross from Gisdian Placido, but the U.S. closed to within a goal at 1-2. However, the Netherlands answered back with a quick goal, as Daley Brandt assisted on Dufess' goal to give the Dutch a 3-1 lead in the 81st minute, putting out the fire of the U.S. comeback. Dufess contributed one goal and two assists in an eye-catching performance for the match. In the end, the Netherlands won 3-1 and advanced to the Round of 8.
