Holland beats USA in Amsterdam friendly

[Zeppo]

Dutch duo net win

Dirk Kuyt and Klaas Jan Huntelaar grabbed the goals as Holland beat fellow World Cup qualifiers the United States in Amsterdam.

Kuyt opened the scoring from the spot five minutes before half-time after Wesley Sneijder was fouled and substitute Huntelaar made it two with a deflected strike in the 73rd minute.

There was something for the Americans to cheer as captain Carlos Bocanegra grabbed a late consolation goal, their first against Holland.

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[Zeppo]

Americans still displaying favorable traits despite tough loss to Dutch

Less than 30 minutes after the U.S. fell 2-1 here to the Netherlands on Wednesday, defender Jonathan Bornstein breathed a deep sigh on the floor of the Amsterdam ArenA and pondered his night. Although the Dutch had dominated possession for most of the game, it still came down to two moments involving Bornstein -- one within his control and one outside it -- that decided the outcome in the end.

Late in the first half with the game still scoreless, Bornstein grabbed Wesley Sneijder in the box, drawing the same kind of avoidable penalty that Bornstein picked up in the 1-0 loss at Slovakia in November. Sneijder didn't have to fall, but he's a cagey player who knew there had been contact, and Bornstein knew it too.

"I did grab him a little bit," Bornstein acknowledged. "I touched him, and he could have kept going and he fell. But they called it, so I guess it was a penalty."

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[Bricktop]

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"I did grab him a little bit," Bornstein acknowledged. "I touched him, and he could have kept going and he fell.

Well if you grabbed him it's a foul genius

[Mosiah]

a little, he grabbed him "a little"!

sigh

[Zeppo]

Yeah, Bornstein should have known better. And in a friendly from the end of last year against Slovakia he gave away a similar penalty. It's becoming a bad habit.

In further bad news, Nigel De Jong managed to break Stuart Holden's shin with his late tackle.

Holden out for six weeks

[HL]

On another note...the new US Jersey looks like a retro...?