Janssen screamer the Dutch highlight

Netherlands' Quincy Promes (right) and Netherlands' Vincent Janssen (centre) celebrate after their team's victory during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between The Netherlands and Belarus on Oct 7, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

ROTTERDAM • Striker Vincent Janssen wants to repeat his heroics of Friday in the English Premier League, after his screamer helped the Netherlands register a 4-1 victory over Belarus in their World Cup Group A qualifier.

Quincy Promes scored two early goals to settle the nerves and Davy Klaassen and Janssen added two more in the second half as the Dutch, who finished third at the last World Cup Finals in Brazil but failed to qualify for Euro 2016, ended a dreadful run of five straight home defeats stretching back 16 months.

Aleksey Rios scored for Belarus just after half-time but a comeback did not materialise.

Janssen's goal was brilliantly taken, as he skipped around a defender and unleashed an unstoppable left-foot finish into the top corner from outside the box.

"I am glad I could score," he told Voetbalzone after the match. "Of course it's nice as it came after a while. I'm always happy when I score, and I would also like to do it with Tottenham in the Premier League."

Janssen has found it hard in front of goal since joining Spurs from AZ Alkmaar in the summer, scoring just once for the north London club.

Netherlands coach Danny Blind was happy with the scoreline, but said ahead of tomorrow's clash with France: "We played very sloppily for a full quarter of the game.

"We can ill afford that against a strong France. We'll have to do a lot more preparation over the next two days."

The coach added that he was delighted to see Promes score twice, his first goals for the country in 15 international appearances, after the player had been subjected to negative reviews by the Dutch media.

REUTERS

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on October 09, 2016, with the headline Janssen screamer the Dutch highlight. Subscribe