World Cup 2022: Memphis Depay continues incredible scoring streak for Netherlands with USA strike
Memphis Depay netted in the first half of Netherlands' last-16 clash against USA to maintain his impressive form for the Oranje
Memphis Depay has continued his impressive scoring streak for the Netherlands with his goal against USA in the teams' World Cup last-16 clash on Saturday.
Depay has been questioned for his form at Barcelona and has struggled with thigh injuries this season, but the former Manchester United attacker handed a boost to Oranje coach Louis van Gaal with his return to full fitness in time to start against Qatar on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old was named in the starting XI again for the knockout game against USA and opened the scoring with a typically clinical finish after 10 minutes as he swept in a low shot with his right foot following a pass from Denzel Dumfries.
It was Depay's 22nd goal in his last 24 appearances for the Netherlands and is the most important one yet.
Depay's first two goals for the Netherlands came at the 2014 World Cup, against Australia and Chile, but the Oranje failed to qualify for Russia 2018.
This latest strike takes him ahead of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to 43 goals for the Dutch national team and he is now just seven behind their all-time leading scorer Robin van Persie, who netted 50 times for the Oranje.
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Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.