Memphis Depay, Denzel Dumfries earn Netherlands 2-0 World Cup qualifying win in Finland
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Netherlands' Memphis Depay scores their first goal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
HELSINKI – The Netherlands kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable victory, as goals from Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries secured a 2-0 away win over Finland on June 7.
Depay profited from a defensive error to give the Dutch the lead inside six minutes, and Dumfries added a second with a neat finish at the back post midway through the first half.
The Netherlands are third in Group G with three points, behind leaders Poland, who have won both their games, and Finland who have four points from three matches. Ronald Koeman’s side are ahead of Lithuania and Malta, who drew 0-0.
It was a professional performance from the Dutch, who were settled by their early goals and could then coast through the second half to secure a first victory in their World Cup qualification opener since 2012.
“The first one is always difficult,” Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said.
“Despite the fact that we dominated a large part of the game and perhaps should have made it 3-0. We were very good for an hour, the last 30 minutes could have been better.”
Depay latched on to a mis-controlled chested back pass by Kaan Kairinen and his neat finish into the bottom right corner meant no clean sheet for home goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky on his 100th international appearance.
It was a 48th international goal for Depay, leaving him two short of Robin van Persie’s all-time record for the Netherlands.
The Dutch went 2-0 up after 23 minutes when Cody Gakpo’s cross to the back post was volleyed into the roof of the net by Dumfries.
The Inter Milan wing back is already out on his own among defenders in the 21st century, having scored his 10th goal for the Netherlands. He was previously level with van Dijk on nine goals.
Depay could not beat Hradecky despite an excellent chance early in the second half and Gakpo fired into the side netting from a tight angle but Finland rarely threatened to get back into the match.
Elsewhere, Michael Gregoritsch and Marcel Sabitzer scored as Austria beat Romania 2-1 in Vienna. Florin Tanase headed an added-time reply for the visitors, who had squandered several chances in the closing stages.
Bosnia-Herzegovina lead Group H on nine points after Edin Dzeko scored the only goal in a 1-0 home victory over San Marino. Romania, Cyprus and Austria all have three points. REUTERS, AFP