The Netherlands national team bounced back in a big way on Saturday and, after drawing 2-2 with Japan in their opener, routed Sweden 5-1 at NRG Stadium in Houston to take the lead in Group F of the World Cup.
Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo each scored twice, with Crysencio Summerville adding another goal in the 89th minute, propelling the Netherlands forward; they can secure a spot in the next round as group winners with a victory over Tunisia on the final matchday. Sweden, which had opened the tournament with a 5-1 win over Tunisia, lacked finishing power. They squandered at least three chances in the first half and ultimately collapsed despite Anthony Elanga’s goal that briefly made it 1-4.
Koeman’s move pays off immediately
Brobbey was Koeman’s only change from the 2-2 draw in the season opener against Japan.
The Sunderland forward wasted no time in seizing the opportunity right from the start.
The Netherlands caused problems for Sweden with their speed on the wings.
Five minutes in, Cody Gakpo sent in a low cross that Brobbey finished off in the heart of the penalty area to give his team an early lead.
The Netherlands Strikes Again
The Netherlands gained confidence and continued to attack against a Swedish team that took a while to find its footing.
And after the first quarter of an hour, in a very similar play—but on the opposite wing—Denzel Dumfries set up Brobbey for the assist that made it 2-0.
It was at that moment that Sweden, with its back against the wall, found the courage to fight back, led by Isak.
The Liverpool forward showed great skill with the ball, and Graham Potter’s team pushed hard to close the gap.
Gyokeres and Yasin Ayari faced goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt three times, and a millimeter-perfect offside call against Gustaf Lagerbielke prevented the Swedes from getting back into the game before halftime.
Sweden grants amnesty, but the Netherlands does not
Sweden squandered its chances and paid the price, as the Netherlands came out firing after halftime.
Cody Gakpo scored two goals in nine minutes to seal the victory.
The Liverpool winger scored the first goal with ease after another perfect low cross from Dumfries.
He fired the ball past the goalkeeper at the near post after a great individual play to make it 4-0.
Sweden deserves credit for continuing to fight even though the match was already lost.
Potter brought on Elanga for Alexander Bernhardsson in the 56th minute, and the former Manchester United player—now a winger for Newcastle—brought some spark to the Swedish attack.
It took him just three minutes to make it 1-4, beating Bart Verbruggen in a one-on-one situation after a through ball from Isak.
That goal did not change the course of a match dominated by the Netherlands, who capped off their victory with a final score of 5-1 over Sweden.
A play by Crysencio Summerville, who took a right-footed shot across the goal from the edge of the box in the 89th minute.
The Netherlans takes the lead in Group F
NuevaOnda.com
Technical Specifications
5 – Netherlands: Bart Verbruggen; Micky van de Ven, Virgil van Dijk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Denzel Dumfries; Tijjani Reijnders (Til, 60′), Frenkie de Jong (Koopmeiners, 60′), Ryan Gravenberch; Cody Gakpo (Lang, 91′), Donyell Malen (Summerville, 46′), and Brian Brobbey (Depay, 73′).
1 – Sweden: Kristoffer Nordfeldt; Victor Lindelöf, Isak Hien, Gustaf Lagerbielke; Gabriel Gudmundsson (Stroud, 93′), Yasin Ayari (Ali, 79′), Jesper Karlström (Zeneli, 53′), Alexander Bernhardsson (Elanga, 56′); Benjamin Nygren (Bergvall, 56′); Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres.
Goals: 1-0, 6′: Brobbey; 2-0, 16′: Brobbey; 3-0, 48′: Gakpo; 4-0, 54′: Gakpo; 4-1, 59′: Elanga; 5-1, 89′: Summerville.
Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG). He issued yellow cards to Gudmundsson (53′), Ayari (75′), and Bergvall (81′) of Sweden.
Match Details: A World Cup Group F match between the Netherlands and Sweden on Matchday 2, played at NRG Stadium in Houston in front of 68,777 spectators—a sellout crowd.
With information from EFE
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