The United States has long struggled to win matches on European soil and that proved to be the case again on Wednesday as the Netherlands defeated the Americans, 2-1, at Amsterdam ArenA. The Dutch controlled the majority of possession and netted the first two goals of the match, but the United States scored a late goal to give themselves a chance before playing several balls into the Dutch box in the dying minutes. It wasn’t enough, though, and the Netherlands, who were perfect in 2010 World Cup Qualifying, won yet again.
Each team debuted their secondary kits in the match, Holland in white and the United States in blue. The Netherlands were in control from the get-go as the Americans gave the ball away easily, but the Dutch did not get any high quality chances for most of the first half. A near own goal was the first almost-goal of the match as Jose Francisco Torres put a ball over the head of Tim Howard, forcing the American keeper to rush back and tip it over the bar.
The match got a bit testy in the 29th minute when Nigel de Jong came in late on a challenge, catching Stuart Holden with his studs and knocking the Bolton midfielder out of the match. Holden was initially diagnosed with a shin contusion, but was due for x-rays after the tackle that earned de Jong a yellow card.
The best chance to that point came in the 33rd minute when Torres found space 30 yards from goal and beat the keeper with a rocket, but the ball could not dip in time to get under the bar.
A tug on the shirt of Wesley Sneijder by Jonathan Bortnstein in the 39th minute got Holland on the scoresheet as Sniejder went down in the box, earning the Netherlands a penalty. Dirk Kuty stepped up to take the penalty and beat Howard, who guessed the wrong way.
The second 45 minutes got off to a slow start as both sides were active, but never overly threatening. The Dutch were able to add a second goal in the 72nd minute when Klaas-Jan Huntelaar let fly from the top of the box. The shot deflected off of Bornstein and past Howard, who could not react to the deflection.
Just before the 90th minute, the United States finally got a goal of their own when DaMarcus Beasley played a ball in on a set piece from 40 yards that found an unmarked Carlos Bocanegra. Bocanegra got his head to the ball six yards from goal just before the goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg could get off his line to punch it away.
A minute later, Alejandro Bedoya was taken down, earning a whistle from the referee, but the foul was about a half yard outside of the box and thus, no penalty. The set piece was taken by Beasley again, but even though it was hit hard to the side of the net, Stekelenburg was waiting for it. The United States got two more corner kicks and a blistering shot by Jozy Altidore that was saved before the four minutes of extra time expired.
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