CAMERON CARTER-VICKERS is hoping to get the nod to face Virgil van Dijk and his Dutch team-mates in the World Cup last 16 in Qatar at the weekend.
The Celtic central defender set up a potential clash of the Old v New Bhoys in the Khalifa Stadium in Dohar on Saturday afternoon.
Carter-Vickers missed his adopted nation’s first two games in the soccer showpiece – draws against Wales (1-1) and England (0-0) – but was given the nod by head coach Gregg Berhalter for the crucial encounter against Iran where a win was imperative for the Americans.
THE WINNER…Christian Pulisic thumps the ball home for close range to set up a meeting with the Netherlands.
JUST IN TIME…Cameron Carter-Vickers looks on as central defensive team-mate Walker Zimmerman clears with keeper Matt Turner grounded.
Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic claimed the only goal of the tense confrontation when he struck from close range seven minutes from the interval.
The Iranians piled forward in the second-half in an effort to grab the equaliser that would see them go through from Group B along with Gareth Southgate’s team who eased to a 3-0 win over dismal Wales in their final outing in the section.
Carter-Vickers and Co repelled the advances of the Iranians in a frantic second period and now face up to ex-Celt Van Dijk and the Netherlands who beat hosts Qatar 2-0 to move within 90 minutes of quarter-final place.
