Memphis Depay grabs a brace, as The Netherlands get back to winning ways. All eyes now turn to Amsterdam on Tuesday!
Memphis Depay scored twice as The Netherlands secured an important World Cup qualifying victory over Montenegro. The Barcelona forward scored from the penalty spot on 38 minutes, after he had been pulled down in the box by Dusan Lagator. The penalty was convincing. Depay smashed the ball into the top right of the net, with the goalkeeper, Matija Sarkic going the wrong way.
He scored his 2nd after the break, lashing in from a tight angle and embarrassing Sarkic at his near post after 62 minutes before Giorginio Wijnaldum netted a 3rd on 70 minutes. Depay now has 30 international goals and 9 from his last 9 matches.
Cody Gakpo then netted the best goal of the night, with a beautifully curled shot from outside the area, as the Dutch moved to 2nd in Group G. They now sit a point behind leaders Turkey, who they play on Tuesday at home. Gakpo’s goal was his 1st for his country and he scored it on the ground he plays his club football for PSV Eindhoven.
On the back of a 1-1 draw against Norway away in their last game, The Netherlands put in a great performance in Eindhoven to win the game comfortably. The Netherlands’ slick passing and fast attacking ensured a deserved win. The victory is the 1st of boss Louis van Gaal’s 3rd spell as manager of his country.
Montenegro did have some decent chances. These came mostly as a result of some poor defending from The Netherlands, but Stefan Mugosa was particularly wasteful, most notably with a shot he sliced wide having been put in on goal by Dutch debutant Tyrell Malacia’s lazy pass.
Montenegro are now 4th in the group on 7 points and looking unlikely to take the one automatic qualification spot. Tuesday’s game in Amsterdam is likely to decide who takes that!
