A massive Group G World Cup qualifier between first-place Turkey and second-place Netherlands resulted in a famous 6-1 victory for Louis van Gaal’s side in Amsterdam.
The Netherlands moved to the top of the group with 13 points from six games, while Turkey dropped to third after Norway took care of business against Gibraltar to climb into the second-place spot. It’s going to be an almighty battle between the three nations over the final four matchdays, but it’d be shocking to see Holland slip-up now.
They had Johan Cruijff ArenA bouncing in the first minute with the first of two stunning combinations between Memphis Depay and Davy Klaassen.
On this one, Klaassen got the one-two started with a clever flick, Depay laid it back into his path and the Ajax midfielder guided his effort off the far post and in.
Netherlands score in the first minute pic.twitter.com/yfjJROfVVa
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 7, 2021
The second combo, arriving on 16 minutes, was preposterous. Depay, 30 yards from goal, used his first touch to flick the ball up to Klaassen. The Barça attacker immediately ran through on goal, and Klaassen’s first touch was a delightful return ball that Depay brought down with his right toe before instinctively flicking his right boot at it for the smooth finish.
Flawless touch
Depay makes it 2-0 pic.twitter.com/7lHWX8zlfd— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 7, 2021
If you’d grown sick of watching nations fail to breakdown packed defenses over international break, the Netherlands provided the perfect remedy.
In the 36th minute, another piece of intricate play in the box drew a foul from Çağlar Söyüncü. Depay, being The World’s Most Confident Man, clipped his penalty down the middle.
Cheeky penalty gives Depay his 2nd goal pic.twitter.com/4Wjv5UEgXp
— ESPN+ (@ESPNPlus) September 7, 2021
Söyüncü would pick up a second yellow card in the 44th minute, rendering the second half pointless, but Depay got his hat-trick in the 54th. He now has 33 goals for the Dutch, which moves him level with Cruyff.
Hat trick for Memphis Depay! pic.twitter.com/czIGKiwQTW
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 7, 2021
There was still time for 23-year-old midfielder Guus Til to get his first international goal and a third for 22-year-old Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen.
Cengiz Ünder pulled one back for Turkey in stoppage time on a play where Virgil van Dijk went down injured, but the Liverpool defender said during post-match interviews that he’s fine.
