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Player Ratings: Netherlands 2-1 USA
The wily, flashy Dutch welcomed the Americans to Amsterdam for a bit of a soccer lesson, before a late flurry in the last five minutes of the match made things interesting.
Mar 3, 2010 5:27:00 PM
By Zac Lee Rigg
Maarten Stekelenburg – 7
Safe hands. Stayed calm even in the final minutes as his goal saw a dramatic increase in action. Assured.
Gregory van der Wiel – 6
Prevented Donovan from ever asserting his influence in the game and never allowed players in behind him. Stable.
Johnny Heitinga – 7
Met anything the U.S. threw at him with aggression and determination. Snarling.
Joris Mathijsen – 6
Did all the small things right and didn't find himself ever truly tested. Made way at the half. Composed.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst – 6
Hardly had anything to do all game. By the time the Dutch captain made way for Braafheid, his touches on the ball barely numbered a handful. Silent.
Nigel de Jong – 7
Smoothly worked the ball around from deep and provided security to his attackers. His tackle on Holden, Holland's first even remotely rough challenge, was an unfortunate blight on an otherwise assured performance. Sleek.
Mark van Bommel – 6
Usually polemic and vicious, the Munich man kept things simple. Played slightly higher up the pitch than usual with de Jong holding and just made sure to keep the ball moving around. Tempered.
Arjen Robben – 5
Perhaps an injury prevented the winger from torching the U.S. backline with his pace. After the first couple minutes, his influence on the game waned considerably until he made way at halftime. Subdued.
Wesley Sneijder – 9
Man of the match. Everything in the Dutch attack funneled through Sneijder's clairvoyant vision. Mourinho's muse won the penalty and passed to van der Vaart in the buildup for the second goal. As the final whistle blew, Sneijder cursed the assistant referee for (what he felt was a) flubbed offside call seconds earlier -- even with the win and only in a friendly, such was this man's desire to win. Cerebral.
Eljero Elia – 8
His separation speed caused the American fullbacks fits. Swapping flanks, taking on markers, ducking in behind the backline, Bert van Marwijk couldn't ask for a more active showing. Cleaving.
Dirk Kuyt – 6
Looks out of place in a technical and sexy Netherlands side. Never mustered the pace or movement necessary to test the USA defense in open play, but took his penalty well. Lout.
Substitutes
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar – 6
Poacher.
Ron Vlaar – 6
Solid.
Rafael van der Vaart – 7
Bright.
Edson Braafheid – N/A
Ibrahim Afellay – N/A
Ryan Babel – N/A
USA
Tim Howard – 6
Looks smaller in the net than a year ago when his form reached its peak, but still makes the saves required of him. Conceded to a penalty kick and a wickedly deflected shot, so no blame falls to the Everton man. Steady.
Jonathan Spector – 5
Never made it into the offensive third to display his crossing ability. Pinned-back.
Jay DeMerit – 6.5
Tough tackling and powerful, Watford's captain doesn't let anyone by without a few scars for his trouble. A minor injury eventually forced him off. Gnarly.
Carlos Bocanegra – 6.5
Headed home the consolation goal late in the match. His shift up until that point had been solid enough without ever showcasing his talents too brightly. Organized.
Jonathan Bornstein – 3
Oopsy Daisy. Five minutes after giving up a penalty for foolishly tugging on Sneijder's arm, Bornstein played the ball with his hand inside the area. Luckily for him the referee didn't see it. It was the chest of the Chivas USA man that deflected the game-winning goal in for Holland to cap off a miserable night. Silly.
Stuart Holden – N/A
Came off early with an injury before Bolton's latest addition could strut his stuff. Unfortunate.
Jose Francisco Torres – 5
Gave away the ball far too often for what is supposed to be Bob Bradley's technical option in the middle. Provided America's best chance in the first half when he sniped a shot from distance just over the net, but tempered that with picking up a needless yellow card. Sloppy.
Michael Bradley – 5
Playing in the position known as the engine, Bradley's new clean-shaven hairdo was apt; his balding tires couldn't find any traction in this match. Outplayed.
Landon Donovan – 5
Perhaps the flu that has plagued Donovan the past few weeks sapped his energy, but for some reason Donovan couldn't click in this one. Lacking.
Jozy Altidore – 6
Allowed himself to be forced wide by a wily Dutch defense far too easily. To say that he was the USA's most consistent offensive threat is to hardly offer any praise at all. In the 90th minute he found the confidence to split two defenders and cannon a shot on goal, but it was too little too late. Robust.
Robbie Findley – 5
Given chance after chance to show that he's Charlie Davies in disguise, even Bob Bradley will have to admit after this final test that Findley is, in fact, not Charlie Davies in disguise. Purposeless.
Substitutes
DaMarcus Beasley – 6.5
Promising.
Maurice Edu – 6
Tidy.
Alejandro Bedoya – 6.5
Determined.
Heath Pearce – N/A
Eddie Johnson – N/A
Clarence Goodson – N/A
Visit the U.S. national team page on Goal.com for more
Safe hands. Stayed calm even in the final minutes as his goal saw a dramatic increase in action. Assured.
Gregory van der Wiel – 6
Prevented Donovan from ever asserting his influence in the game and never allowed players in behind him. Stable.
Johnny Heitinga – 7
Met anything the U.S. threw at him with aggression and determination. Snarling.
Joris Mathijsen – 6
Did all the small things right and didn't find himself ever truly tested. Made way at the half. Composed.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst – 6
Hardly had anything to do all game. By the time the Dutch captain made way for Braafheid, his touches on the ball barely numbered a handful. Silent.
Nigel de Jong – 7
Smoothly worked the ball around from deep and provided security to his attackers. His tackle on Holden, Holland's first even remotely rough challenge, was an unfortunate blight on an otherwise assured performance. Sleek.
Mark van Bommel – 6
Usually polemic and vicious, the Munich man kept things simple. Played slightly higher up the pitch than usual with de Jong holding and just made sure to keep the ball moving around. Tempered.
Arjen Robben – 5
Perhaps an injury prevented the winger from torching the U.S. backline with his pace. After the first couple minutes, his influence on the game waned considerably until he made way at halftime. Subdued.
Wesley Sneijder – 9
Man of the match. Everything in the Dutch attack funneled through Sneijder's clairvoyant vision. Mourinho's muse won the penalty and passed to van der Vaart in the buildup for the second goal. As the final whistle blew, Sneijder cursed the assistant referee for (what he felt was a) flubbed offside call seconds earlier -- even with the win and only in a friendly, such was this man's desire to win. Cerebral.
Eljero Elia – 8
His separation speed caused the American fullbacks fits. Swapping flanks, taking on markers, ducking in behind the backline, Bert van Marwijk couldn't ask for a more active showing. Cleaving.
Dirk Kuyt – 6
Looks out of place in a technical and sexy Netherlands side. Never mustered the pace or movement necessary to test the USA defense in open play, but took his penalty well. Lout.
Substitutes
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar – 6
Poacher.
Ron Vlaar – 6
Solid.
Rafael van der Vaart – 7
Bright.
Edson Braafheid – N/A
Ibrahim Afellay – N/A
Ryan Babel – N/A
USA
Tim Howard – 6
Looks smaller in the net than a year ago when his form reached its peak, but still makes the saves required of him. Conceded to a penalty kick and a wickedly deflected shot, so no blame falls to the Everton man. Steady.
Jonathan Spector – 5
Never made it into the offensive third to display his crossing ability. Pinned-back.
Jay DeMerit – 6.5
Tough tackling and powerful, Watford's captain doesn't let anyone by without a few scars for his trouble. A minor injury eventually forced him off. Gnarly.
Carlos Bocanegra – 6.5
Headed home the consolation goal late in the match. His shift up until that point had been solid enough without ever showcasing his talents too brightly. Organized.
Jonathan Bornstein – 3
Oopsy Daisy. Five minutes after giving up a penalty for foolishly tugging on Sneijder's arm, Bornstein played the ball with his hand inside the area. Luckily for him the referee didn't see it. It was the chest of the Chivas USA man that deflected the game-winning goal in for Holland to cap off a miserable night. Silly.
Stuart Holden – N/A
Came off early with an injury before Bolton's latest addition could strut his stuff. Unfortunate.
Jose Francisco Torres – 5
Gave away the ball far too often for what is supposed to be Bob Bradley's technical option in the middle. Provided America's best chance in the first half when he sniped a shot from distance just over the net, but tempered that with picking up a needless yellow card. Sloppy.
Michael Bradley – 5
Playing in the position known as the engine, Bradley's new clean-shaven hairdo was apt; his balding tires couldn't find any traction in this match. Outplayed.
Landon Donovan – 5
Perhaps the flu that has plagued Donovan the past few weeks sapped his energy, but for some reason Donovan couldn't click in this one. Lacking.
Jozy Altidore – 6
Allowed himself to be forced wide by a wily Dutch defense far too easily. To say that he was the USA's most consistent offensive threat is to hardly offer any praise at all. In the 90th minute he found the confidence to split two defenders and cannon a shot on goal, but it was too little too late. Robust.
Robbie Findley – 5
Given chance after chance to show that he's Charlie Davies in disguise, even Bob Bradley will have to admit after this final test that Findley is, in fact, not Charlie Davies in disguise. Purposeless.
Substitutes
DaMarcus Beasley – 6.5
Promising.
Maurice Edu – 6
Tidy.
Alejandro Bedoya – 6.5
Determined.
Heath Pearce – N/A
Eddie Johnson – N/A
Clarence Goodson – N/A
Visit the U.S. national team page on Goal.com for more
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