Memphis Depay set a new scoring record for the Netherlands as his double ensured they survived a scare in beating Lithuania 3-2 away in their World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
Two goals for the 31-year-old Depay took his national team tally to 52, going ahead of Robin van Persie’s previous record, and putting the Netherlands top of the Group G standings with 10 points from four games.
Poland sit just behind the group leaders after Matty Cash scored his second goal in two games to help his team to a 3-1 win at home to Finland, Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Kaminski also scoring to seal the victory. Benjamin Kallman scored Finland’s late consolation.
Depay had the Dutch ahead in the 11th minute as they looked to put aside the disappointment of Thursday’s 1-1 home draw against Poland in Rotterdam, volleying home from close range as Cody Gakpo pulled back a pass from the byline and being hoisted on to his teammates’ shoulders in celebration.
Quinten Timber then got his first international goal as the Dutch doubled the lead in the 33rd minute and looked to be cruising to an easy win. But Lithuania then scored twice in the space of seven minutes to level the score by half-time. First a mazy run from inside his own half by the home captain, Justas Lasickas, drew the Dutch defence and set up Gvidas Gineitis for a 36th-minute goal. Gineitis then floated a free-kick in the 43rd minute for Edvinas Girdvainis to power a header home as he rose easily above Gakpo.
Dutch angst was extinguished in the 64th minute as Depay rose majestically to power home a header from Denzel Dumfries’s cross from the right flank and ensure a valuable three point haul as they seek a place at next year’s finals. Lithuania, the world’s No 143 side, were the lowest-ranked team to score a goal against the Dutch since 1992 when Fifa introduced the world rankings.
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino scored a hat-trick as European champions Spain maintained their 100% start to qualifying with an emphatic 6-0 win in Turkey.
Pedri got on the scoresheet twice and Ferran Torres also found the net in a blistering display by Luis de la Fuente’s side in Sunday’s Group E encounter in Konya.
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Victory could have been even more convincing but for a number of saves by the Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, who was kept busy throughout.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored as Georgia beat Bulgaria 3-0 in Tbilisi to revive their qualification hopes. Further goals from Luka Gagnidze and Georges Mikautadze ensured Willy Sagnol’s side put behind them Thursday’s defeat at home to Turkey to climb to second in Group E.
Kevin De Bruyne scored twice as Belgium thumped Kazakhstan 6-0 to climb above Wales in Group J, with his former Manchester City teammate Jeremy Doku also chipping in with a brace. Nicolas Raskin and Thomas Meunier added goals to ensure their side maintained their strong position with a game in hand. Craig Bellamy’s side are now third in the group after North Macedonia’s 5-0 win over Lichtenstein sent them top.
