World Cup: Netherlands & Argentina Win
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Netherlands 3
[Depay 10, Blind 45+1, Dumfries 81]
United States 1
[Wright 76]
The Netherlands reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup after a ruthless display of finishing against the United States in Doha today.
Memphis Depay gave the Netherlands an early lead, turning in Denzel Dumfries’s cross after Christian Pulisic missed a good chance for the United States.
The Netherlands doubled their advantage when Daley Blind finished from another Dumfries pullback just before half-time.
A deflected shot from United States’ Haji Wright looped in at the far post to set up a nervous finale for the Dutch; however, Dumfries restored their two-goal advantage with a neat finish from Blind’s cross.
Argentina 2
[Messi 35, Alvarez 57]
Australia 1
[Fernandez 77 og]
Lionel Messi scored on his 1,000th career game to help Argentina reach the last eight after beating Australia.
The 35-year-old slid home a superb left-footed effort in the first half before Julian Alvarez capitalised on a mistake by Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan after the break.
Australia pulled a goal back when Craig Goodwin’s strike took a wicked deflection off Enzo Fernandez.
Argentina will meet the Netherlands in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Tomorrow’s games
Round of 16
France v Poland, 11 am
England v Senegal, 3 pm
