Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt and AC Milan forward Klaas Jan Huntelaar found the net as Holland defeated USA.
Kuyt and Huntelaar on target
Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt and AC Milan forward Klaas Jan Huntelaar found the net as Holland defeated USA in Amsterdam.
Kuyt struck the opener from the spot before the break after Wesley Sneijder had been brought down before Huntelaar stepped off the bench to make it 2-0 in the 73rd minute with a deflected effort.
Captain Carlos Bocanegra pulled a goal back for America against their hosts, with both teams heading to the World Cup finals.
The hosts created the better chances in the first half, with Sneijder in particular looking to test USA goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Gregory van der Wiel was first to try his luck from 25 yards after seven minutes, but he could not find the target.
Stuart Holden did a little better at the other end, but his right-foot drive from 18 yards presented Maarten Stekelenburg with a comfortable save.
Sneijder came close to opening the scoring after 12 minutes.
Restricted
His strike from the right side of the box was turned round the post by Howard and Holland could do nothing with the resulting corner.
Sneijder was in shoot-on-sight mode and twice more tested Howard before the half-hour mark, the first attempt from 20 yards held well by the Everton stopper, the next from a little closer proving an easier save.
America, meanwhile, were restricted to hopeful effort, Jose Torres firing over the bar from 30 yards after 33 minutes.
The deadlock was broken in the 40th minute after Jonathan Bornstein brought down Sneijder in the area.
Kuyt stepped up and placed the penalty into the bottom-left corner.
Huntelaar made his entrance at half-time, replacing Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben, and he was quickly in the action, sending a long-range effort over the bar within four minutes of the restart.
Sneijder had yet another go two minutes later, but Howard again held on.
Wasteful
United States striker Jozy Altidore was off target after 65 minutes while Eljero Elia was similarly wasteful for Holland.
Landon Donovan was at least on target for America with his 20-yard curler, but hardly threatening.
Holland grabbed a second goal after 73 minutes when Huntelaar accepted the ball from Rafael van der Vaart, another substitute, before drilling a low shot past Howard via the backside of the unlucky Bornstein.
Both coaches were making full use of their allotment of substitutions now and the rhythm of the game inevitably suffered.
Van der Vaart came close to getting on the scoresheet himself when his 30-yard curling effort drew an excellent save from the diving Howard.
A minute from time, Ibrahim Afellay fouled DaMarcus Beasley and the Rangers man sent over a high free-kick for Bocanegra to head home.
America could even have claimed a late draw, but Alejandro Bedoya headed Beasley's corner wide from six yards.
