Netherlands Dominate Malta 4-0 in World Cup Qualifier

The Netherlands asserted their dominance in Group G with a convincing 4-0 win over Malta in their FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The Netherlands' persistence paid off when Cody Gakpo was fouled, earning a penalty...

The Netherlands asserted their dominance in Group G of the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a convincing 4-0 victory over Malta in Ta' Qali. Cody Gakpo scored two penalties, while Tijjani Reijnders and Memphis Depay added to the scoreline, securing a comfortable win for the Dutch side.

With this win, the Netherlands took a three-point lead in the group standings. Gakpo's impressive performance marked a significant milestone, becoming the first Dutch player since Rob Rensenbrink in 1978 to score two penalties in a single game. The victory sets the stage for their upcoming match against Finland, where they aim to consolidate their position.

The match nearly took an unexpected turn when Virgil van Dijk's poor pass back to Bart Verbruggen was intercepted by Irvin Cardona, who fired a shot that narrowly missed the target. This moment of drama was quickly forgotten as the Netherlands continued to press for a breakthrough.

The Netherlands' persistence paid off when Cody Gakpo was fouled, earning a penalty. Gakpo himself took responsibility for the spot-kick, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner after 12 minutes, giving the Netherlands a 1-0 lead.

The Netherlands' attack was spearheaded by Cody Gakpo, who scored two penalties and set up a goal for Tijjani Reijnders, while Memphis Depay also made his mark with a penalty kick and an assist for Xavi Simons.

Malta struggled to create scoring opportunities, with Ryan Camenzuli and Ylyas Chouaref coming closest to breaking the deadlock, but their shots either went wide or were blocked. Despite their efforts, the Netherlands dominated the game, adding more goals through Simons, Donyell Malen, and Noa Lang.

A potential penalty situation arose when referee Strukan pointed to the spot for a suspected handball by Matthew Guillaumier. However, after a VAR review, it was determined that there was no clear handball, as Guillaumier had kept his arms to his body.

 

A win in Malta! ✔️#NothingLikeOranje #MLTNED pic.twitter.com/9EvEPM6bA9

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) October 9, 2025

The first half concluded with some surprising statistics, considering the scoreline. Malta had almost as many attempts on goal as the Netherlands, with only two fewer shots. This was comparable to their entire shot count during the 8-0 defeat in June.

The Netherlands took the lead just 12 minutes into the match when Cody Gakpo scored a penalty after Ryan Camenzuli's foul on the Dutch player. The penalty was calmly converted by Gakpo, giving the Netherlands a 1-0 lead.

The Netherlands continued their dominance after halftime, with Cody Gakpo doubling the lead in the 48th minute with his second penalty of the game. Tijjani Reijnders added a third goal ten minutes later after goalkeeper Henry Bonello's poor pass allowed Gakpo to set him up for a straightforward finish. Memphis Depay later sealed the win with a penalty, and Donyell Malen scored the fifth goal, securing a 4-0 victory for the Netherlands.

The Netherlands' pace slowed after Reijnders' goal, with only Denzel Dumfries and Memphis Depay threatening to score again. However, the Dutch sealed their victory in the third minute of injury time when Depay headed in a cross from Dumfries, securing a 4-0 win.

The victory put the Netherlands top of Group G, three points clear of Poland and Finland. Their next challenge is against Finland at the Johan Cruyff ArenA this Sunday.