The Netherlands delivered a ruthless masterclass in attacking football, thrashing Malta 8–0 in a one-sided UEFA World Cup qualifying match at the Euroborg Stadium. The result not only underlined the Oranje’s strength in Group G, but also exposed the vast gulf in quality between the two sides.
The Dutch were relentless from the opening whistle, with Memphis Depay opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the 9th minute before doubling the lead with a composed finish just seven minutes later. The brace brought Depay’s international tally to 50 goals, drawing him level with Robin van Persie as the joint all-time top scorer for the Netherlands.
Malta barely had time to regroup before Virgil van Dijk headed in the third from a corner on 20 minutes, putting the result beyond doubt before the half-hour mark.
The Netherlands maintained control throughout the second half, with Xavi Simons volleying in a well-worked move in the 61st minute. The introduction of substitutes Noa Lang and Donyell Malen only added to Malta’s misery. Malen made it 5–0 with a clinical low finish in the 74th minute, before Lang chipped in a sixth just minutes later. Malen bagged his second of the night in the 80th, rounding off a solo run with a powerful strike.
The final insult came in stoppage time, when defender Micky van de Ven scored his first goal for the national team with a volley to seal the 8–0 demolition.
Netherlands: Mark Flekken; Denzel Dumfries; Stefan de Vrij; Virgil van Dijk; Micky van de Ven (Donyell Malen 74′); Frenkie de Jong; Ryan Gravenberch (Mats Wieffer 46′); Xavi Simons (Noa Lang 61′); Justin Kluivert (Wout Weghorst 62′); Cody Gakpo (Noa Lang 46′); Memphis Depay.
Malta: Henry Bonello; Juan Corbalan (Kurt Shaw 46′); Gabriel Mentz; James Carragher; Ryan Camenzuli; Adam Overend (Basil Tuma 46′); Matthew Guillaumier (Brandon Paiber 56′); Alexander Satariano; Teddy Teuma (Jodi Jones 60′); Joseph Mbong; Paul Mbong.
Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea (Spain)
PHOTO – MFA
