Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey both scored twice as the Netherlands beat Sweden 5-1 in a World Cup tip-off on Saturday in Houston.
This large victory in front of nearly 69,000 spectators placed the Dutch delighted on the dawn of the round of 16 and allowed them to take off after being held to a draw by Japan.
Ronald Koeman’s side lead Group F with four points from two matches, ahead of Sweden on three points, Japan (one) and Tunisia (none).
Despite the sobering defeat, the Swedes had plenty of chances but were denied by good goalkeeping and unnecessary finishing.
They still have a good chance of qualifying for the knockout stages, but will face a test in the form of Japan in their final group match.
“We attacked, we had a few chances, but obviously defensively you can’t concede that many and expect to win, but we will learn a lot from the game,” Sweden coach Graham Potter said. BBC Television.
“Sometimes you have to have these experiences, I didn’t think it was this kind of game, but again it’s the score, we have to accept it and learn from it.”
Sunderland striker Brobbey was handed his first start of the tournament and rewarded Koeman with predatory goals after five and 17 minutes.
Before that, the 24-year-old had scored just one goal for his country.
In a talent-packed Premier League game, Liverpool’s Gakpo – who set up Brobbey for the opener – scored twice early in the second half.
Substitute Anthony Elanga pulled one back for Sweden just before the hour mark with a stylish finish.
Substitute Crysencio Summerville, replaced in the starting XI by Brobbey, had the last word for the five-star Dutchman.
“If you look closely at the goals we scored, it will instill fear among the opponents,” Koeman said.
“The way these goals were achieved, in a transition with a lot of pace and a lot of quality, we can be incredibly dangerous.”
Takeoff for the Dutch
Two crew members from the historic Artemis II lunar mission were among the VIP guests, a nod to Houston as the birthplace of spaceflight.
The Dutch, twice relegated in a 2-2 draw with Japan to begin their title quest, got off to a better start in front of their orange-clad supporters and King Willem-Alexander.
Brobbey, who replaced Summerville despite the winger’s goal against Japan, started and finished the first goal.
This was achieved in the Premier League, with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Gakpo all involved.
Brobbey exchanged passes with Gakpo, before the Anfield striker crossed low from the left for his teammate to stab in from close range.
At the other end, the vaunted attack of Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres was feeding off Sweden’s scraps.
Twelve minutes into his opener, Brobbey made it 2-0 when Denzel Dumfries’ deflected cross from the right fell perfectly into his path and he headed past Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
Sweden, who beat Tunisia 5-1 in their opener, then created several chances for Gyokeres and Yasin Ayari to narrow the gap, but they failed to force their way past Verbruggen before half-time.
Warning for the World Cup
Koeman sent Summerville through for Malen on the break, and two minutes later it was mission impossible for Sweden, with Gakpo poking over from close range after another dangerous low cross from Dumfries.
Gakpo scored a neat fourth in the 54th minute, turning inside his defender before firing low into the bottom corner.
Elanga pulled one back when he broke free from the Dutch defense and slotted the ball past Verbruggen.
West Ham’s Summerville scored five points in the final minutes with their second goal in North America.
“Of course this match was better than the last one. That’s what you want, ideally you want to win from the start,” Koeman said.
“But if it’s a sign of more things to come, then we’re moving in the right direction.”
