Haji Wright’s outrageous goal against the Netherlands was “pure chance”, insists Dean Ashton, as the United States collapse in the last 16 of the World Cup.

USA star Haji Wright threatened to come back in the 3-1 loss to the Netherlands with the most bizarre strike.

But the striker’s goal proved insufficient to save his country’s Qatar 2022 campaign, and talkSPORT’s Dean Ashton is convinced the substitute didn’t want to score the way he did.

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Getty

USA found themselves trailing 2-0 after the first 45 minutes, with the Netherlands and former Manchester United stars Memphis Depay and Daley Blind both converting delicious passes from Denzel Dumfries.

But while the Dutch looked set to be heading for an unusually comfortable victory for a World Cup knockout tie, the United managed to spark a potential comeback thanks to substitute Wright’s freak strike in the second half.

Former England striker and talkSPORT commentator for the game, Dean Ashton, predicted the impact of the American star and a potential twist in the story, saying: “Wright has an opportunity.

“I think we’d be silly to write off the United States with what’s happened so far.”

Sure enough, 10 minutes later Wright converted a cross from Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, looping the ball over everyone and somehow finding the top left corner of the net with his toe at an angle tight.

But with fans wondering if Wright intended to go for goal or not, Ashton admitted he was unconvinced the striker tried to shoot.

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AFP

“He certainly didn’t mean it!” he said.

“He actually hit his toe and had a really weird spin to go into the far corner. It was a fluke, it’s as simple as that. It was luck, it was a stroke of luck.

However, USA’s chances of a comeback were quickly extinguished, as Dumfries finally got his moment in the spotlight, meeting Blind’s volley to send him into the bottom corner in the 81st minute.

After overcoming late pressure to stun the United States, the Netherlands will now face the winner of Saturday night’s Round of 16 at 7pm between Argentina and Australia – which you can listen to live on talkSPORT.