The Netherlands survived a late scare against the United States to move into the World Cup quarter-finals with a ruthless display of finishing.
The US had the game's biggest early chance when Christian Pulisic was denied by the legs of Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert and the failure to take that opportunity proved highly expensive.
Louis van Gaal's side responded in the finest Dutch traditions in the 10th minute when Memphis Depay crowned a magnificent 21-pass move by turning in Denzel Dumfries' cross.
The US battled hard but lacked a cutting edge and were punished once more in similar fashion with the final kick of the first half when Daley Blind arrived with perfect timing on the end of another Dumfries cut back.
The Dutch were given anxious moments when the US pulled a goal back in the 76th minute as Haji Wright's freak deflection from Pulisic's cross looped in at the far post.
But they restored their two-goal lead five minutes later when creator Dumfries turned scorer, side-footing in a volley at the far post from Blind's cross.
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Van Gaal's Dutch march on
Van Gaal has been over this course before with the Netherlands, when he guided them to a World Cup semi-final in Brazil in 2014, only to lose on penalties to Argentina after a goalless draw in Sao Paulo.
And his vast experience means they cannot be under-estimated here as they set up a last eight meeting with either their 2014 conquerors Argentina or Australia, who meet at 19:00 GMT on Saturday.
No-one would pretend this is a classic Dutch side but they have a sprinkling of quality in all areas and the beauty of their first goal, which would have delighted the purists in their homeland, was a graphic demonstration of their capabilities.
Virgil van Dijk is the world-class defensive leader alongside Nathan Ake, while both full-backs Blind and Dumfries made crucial contributions.
Frenkie de Jong brings control to midfield and there is real threat in the shape of Depay, who scored his first goal of this World Cup, and one of the break-out stars of this World Cup, Cody Gakpo.
It was a display that delighted the band of Dutch fans inside Khalifa International Stadium as Van Gaal's side march on.
Pulisic miss proves costly The USA have failed to win all 24 World Cup matches in which they conceded the first goal of the game, losing 19 times in the process
The States' main man Christian Pulisic looked close to tears after the final whistle as he reflected on the chance that got away in those opening moments, an opportunity that might have made this a very different tie.
Pulisic was sent through on goal by Tyler Adams' clever delivery but the outstretched leg of Dutch keeper Noppert made the block. Pulisic should have scored and he knew it.
The US were soon in arrears and could never get close enough to the Netherlands, apart from Wright's goal, which was heavily laced with good fortune.
The left side of their defence was brutally exposed by the Dutch for all three goals and this, mixed with poor finishing, meant their World Cup ends in the first knockout round.
There is something to build on after getting out of the group stages but there will also be disappointed at the sense of missed opportunity as they make their departure from Qatar and start their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which they will be co-hosting.
Player of the match
DumfriesDenzel Dumfries
with an average of 8.97
- NetherlandsNetherlandsNetherlandsUSAUSAUSA
NetherlandsAvgSquad number22Player nameDumfriesAverage rating
8.97
Squad number10Player nameDepayAverage rating
7.94
Squad number5Player nameAkéAverage rating
7.72
Squad number23Player nameNoppertAverage rating
7.54
Squad number17Player nameBlindAverage rating
7.37
Squad number4Player namevan DijkAverage rating
7.30
Squad number8Player nameGakpoAverage rating
7.25
Squad number2Player nameTimberAverage rating
7.06
Squad number21Player namede JongAverage rating
6.99
Squad number25Player nameSimonsAverage rating
6.56
Squad number15Player namede RoonAverage rating
6.49
Squad number14Player nameKlaassenAverage rating
6.41
Squad number7Player nameBergwijnAverage rating
6.38
Squad number3Player namede LigtAverage rating
6.29
Squad number20Player nameKoopmeinersAverage rating
6.21
Squad number19Player nameWeghorstAverage rating
5.78
USAAvgSquad number1Player nameTurnerAverage rating
6.21
Squad number4Player nameAdamsAverage rating
5.83
Squad number6Player nameMusahAverage rating
5.79
Squad number19Player nameWrightAverage rating
5.77
Squad number7Player nameReynaAverage rating
5.75
Squad number21Player nameWeahAverage rating
5.70
Squad number8Player nameMcKennieAverage rating
5.60
Squad number3Player nameZimmermanAverage rating
5.54
Squad number11Player nameAaronsonAverage rating
5.53
Squad number22Player nameYedlinAverage rating
5.46
Squad number2Player nameDestAverage rating
5.31
Squad number10Player namePulisicAverage rating
5.31
Squad number16Player nameMorrisAverage rating
5.30
Squad number9Player nameFerreiraAverage rating
4.98
Squad number13Player nameReamAverage rating
4.77
Squad number5Player nameRobinsonAverage rating
4.44
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsNetherlands
Formation 3-4-1-2
23Noppert2Timber4van Dijk5Aké22Dumfries15de Roon21de Jong17Blind14Klaassen8Gakpo10Depay
- 23Noppert2Timber4van Dijk5AkéSubstituted forde Ligtat 90+4'minutes22Dumfries15de RoonSubstituted forBergwijnat 45'minutes21de JongBooked at 87mins17Blind14KlaassenSubstituted forKoopmeinersat 45'minutesBooked at 60mins8GakpoSubstituted forWeghorstat 90+4'minutes10DepaySubstituted forSimonsat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Pasveer3de Ligt6de Vrij7Bergwijn9de Jong11Berghuis12Lang13Bijlow16Malacia18Janssen19Weghorst20Koopmeiners24Taylor25Simons26Frimpong
USA
Formation 4-3-3
1Turner2Dest3Zimmerman13Ream5Robinson6Musah4Adams8McKennie21Weah9Ferreira10Pulisic
- 1Turner2DestSubstituted forYedlinat 75'minutes3Zimmerman13Ream5RobinsonSubstituted forMorrisat 90+2'minutes6Musah4Adams8McKennieSubstituted forWrightat 67'minutes21WeahSubstituted forAaronsonat 67'minutes9FerreiraSubstituted forReynaat 45'minutes10Pulisic
Substitutes
- 7Reyna11Aaronson12Horvath14de la Torre15Long16Morris17Roldán18Moore19Wright20Carter-Vickers22Yedlin23Acosta25Johnson26Scally
Referee:Wilton Pereira SampaioAttendance:44,846Match StatsHome TeamNetherlandsAway TeamUSAPossessionHome42%Away58%ShotsHome11Away17Shots on TargetHome6Away8CornersHome4Away5FoulsHome10Away5Live Text Post update
Match ends, Netherlands 3, USA 1.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Netherlands 3, USA 1.
90'+6'Post update
Hand ball by Brenden Aaronson (USA).
90'+4'Post update
Attempt blocked. Yunus Musah (USA) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Giovanni Reyna with a headed pass.
90'+4'Substitution
Substitution, Netherlands. Wout Weghorst replaces Cody Gakpo.
90'+4'Substitution
Substitution, Netherlands. Matthijs de Ligt replaces Nathan Aké.
90'+2'Substitution
Substitution, USA. Jordan Morris replaces Antonee Robinson.
90'+1'Post update
Foul by DeAndre Yedlin (USA).
90'+1'Post update
Nathan Aké (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Attempt blocked. Giovanni Reyna (USA) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Brenden Aaronson.
87'Booking
Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
87'Post update
Brenden Aaronson (USA) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'Post update
Foul by Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands).
86'Post update
Attempt missed. Walker Zimmerman (USA) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
86'Post update
Corner, USA. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
85'Post update
Foul by DeAndre Yedlin (USA).
85'Post update
Xavi Simons (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'Post update
Giovanni Reyna (USA) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
84'Post update
Foul by Cody Gakpo (Netherlands).
83'Substitution
Substitution, Netherlands. Xavi Simons replaces Memphis Depay.
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