Depay scores twice as Dutch thrash Gibraltar 6-0
Sports Desk, Oct 11 (EFE).- FC Barcelona’s Memphis Depay posted a a double Monday in a 6-0 win for the Netherlands over Gibraltar in Group G of the European qualifiers for World Cup 2022.
The Dutch, unbeaten in their last five matches since Louis van Gaal returned for his third stint as national team coach, improved to 19 points with two games left.
Norway, one of the surprises of the qualifying tournament, are second with 17 points, followed by Turkey with 15.
Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a header off Depay’s corner kick.
Depay had a chance to make it 2-0 from the spot in the 18th minute after Gibraltar’s Graeme Torrilla was cited for a hand ball, but goalkeeper Bradley Banda guessed right and saved the penalty, silencing the Dutch supporters at De Kuip in Rotterdam.
The Barça man redeemed himself three minutes later, winning the one-on-one battle with Banda after Davy Klaassen cut through the Gibraltar defense.
The visitors conceded another penalty in first-half stoppage time. On this occasion, Depay fooled Banda into jumping the wrong way and the Dutch led 3-0 at the break.
Denzel Dumfries extended the advantage early in the second half.
With the 3 points secure, Van Gaal took the opportunity to test some new combinations and Arnaut Danjuma, who last saw action with the national team three years ago, made the most of his time on stage by scoring a goal.
Donyell Malen added a sixth goal with four minutes left in regulation. EFE
dmu/dr
