WCQ: Netherlands Edge Closer to World Cup Spot with 4-0 Win
Netherlands dominated Finland in their World Cup qualifier, edging closer to securing their spot. The Oranje secured a convincing 4-0 victory in the World Cup qualifiers, strengthening their chances of qualification.
Donyell Malen continued to trouble Finland's defense with his pace, forcing Jesse Joronen to make a...
The Netherlands are one step away from securing their World Cup spot after a convincing 4-0 victory over Finland. This win puts them six points clear at the top of Group G, with Poland and Finland struggling to keep up.
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman made three changes to the team that played against Malta, introducing Justin Kluivert, Donyell Malen, and keeping Memphis Depay in the starting lineup. This tactical move paid off, with the Netherlands dominating the game and securing a comfortable win.
Finland's starting lineup featured a 5-defender system in their 2-1 win over Lithuania, with Jacob Friis opting for Oliver Antman and Topi Keskinen as the front duo. Joel Pohjanpalo was benched. The team's formation allowed Leo Walta to play a key role in supporting the forwards.
Denzel Dumfries created the first chance for the Dutch, but it was Donyell Malen who broke the deadlock. A slick team move involving Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay set Malen up to score the opening goal, despite Jesse Joronen's effort to block it.
Memphis Depay made history by becoming the Netherlands' all-time leader in assists, setting up Malen's goal. He then scored the second goal himself with a precise free kick that Virgil van Dijk headed in, celebrating his 10-year milestone with the Netherlands national team.
Donyell Malen continued to trouble Finland's defense with his pace, forcing Jesse Joronen to make a crucial save before heading the ball wide of the post. Jurrien Timber had the best chance to seal the win with a header, but he hit the crossbar in the 36th minute. Instead, Memphis Depay scored his 54th goal for the Netherlands, converting a penalty kick after Justin Kluivert's shot was blocked by a Finnish hand.
Finland struggled to create scoring opportunities in the first half, with Topi Keskinen's shot towards Bart Verbruggen in the 34th minute being a rare moment of threat. However, the team couldn't capitalize on the chance, heading into the break trailing 3-0.
The Netherlands continued to dominate possession in the second half, with Tijjani Reijnders replacing Ryan Gravenberch at halftime. Reijnders showcased his skill with a long-range shot that Jesse Joronen expertly saved. Finland's Walta had a chance to score, but his shot from distance didn't trouble Bart Verbruggen. Substitute Wout Weghorst thought he'd scored his first international goal in over a year, but it was ruled out for offside.
The Netherlands slowed down their pace in the second half, with Tijjani Reijnders having a notable early attempt, but it was Cody Gakpo who sealed the win with a powerful shot from outside the box, scoring the Netherlands' fourth goal.
With this win, the Netherlands improved their goal difference to +19, making it nearly impossible for Poland (+4) and Finland to catch up. The Dutch now lead the group with 16 points, six points ahead of Poland and Finland, who have more games played. Their next challenge is an away game against Poland in November, followed by a home match against Lithuania, which will be their final World Cup qualifier.
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