Photo: Collected
A first-half hat-trick from Tijjani Reijnders helped the Netherlands crush Greece 7-0 on Friday and move to the brink of the Nations League quarter-finals.
In Amsterdam, Crysencio Summerville put the hosts ahead in the 6th minute, taking advantage of a defensive error. Former Manchester City midfielder Reijnders doubled the lead in the 12th minute.
Reijnders scored again from close to the post in the 18th minute, and completed his hat-trick in the 33rd minute by sending the ball in off the far post.
Before the break Jurrien Timber made it 5-0 from a Donyell Malen cross. The Arsenal defender scored his second in the 60th minute after the break. A minute or so later Malen sealed the Dutch rout with a fine strike.
There was no trace in Greece’s play of the side that had nearly beaten the Netherlands last month.
Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez said, ‘The first half was outstanding, the players have to be congratulated. But this is only one match. We have to keep playing like this. This is the right path.’
Greece had been unbeaten in group A2 before this match, taking four points from two games against Germany. In October they were also two goals up against the Netherlands, but a Reijnders goal made that game finish 2-2.
Greece winger Christos Tzolis said, ‘There is not much to say about today’s match. The start was very poor. Every time they got a chance, we conceded. I think this was our worst first-half performance in the history of the national team.’
The Netherlands top the group with 11 points, three ahead of both Greece and Germany. This big win before the final round has all but secured the Dutch a quarter-final place.
On Monday Germany host the Netherlands in Berlin, while Greece face Serbia at home. Serbia have yet to earn a point in five matches; they finished their 3-1 defeat to Germany in Belgrade with nine players.
Sources
Original report: BSS
