Gakpo stars as Netherlands thump Sweden

Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey each scored twice because the rampant Netherlands thrashed Sweden 5-1 in a World Cup warning on Saturday in Houston.

The massive win in entrance of practically 69,000 put the delighted Dutch on the cusp of the knockout rounds and gave them liftoff after being held by Japan.

Ronald Koeman’s aspect high Group F with 4 factors from two video games, forward of Sweden on three, Japan (one) and Tunisia (none).

Regardless of the sobering loss the Swedes had loads of probabilities however had been denied by good goalkeeping and wasteful ending.

They’re nonetheless in with a very good likelihood of progressing into the final 32.

Japan and Tunisia play later Saturday in Monterrey, Mexico.

Sunderland striker Brobbey bought his first begin of the event and repaid Koeman with predatory targets after 5 and 17 minutes.

Earlier than that the 24-year-old had scored solely as soon as for his nation since making his debut three years in the past.

In a sport filled with high Premier League expertise, Liverpool’s Gakpo — who set Brobbey up for the opener — scored twice early within the second half.

Substitute Anthony Elanga pulled one again for Sweden simply earlier than the hour with a cultured end.

Crysencio Summerville had the final phrase for the five-star Dutch.

Two crew members from the historic Artemis II lunar mission had been among the many VIP friends, a nod to Houston’s place as the house of house flight.

The Dutch, twice pegged again in a full of life 2-2 draw with Japan to start out their title bid, made the brighter begin in entrance of their orange-clad followers and King Willem-Alexander.

Brobbey, who got here in for Summerville regardless of the winger scoring in opposition to Japan, began and completed the primary aim.

It was made within the Premier League, with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Gakpo all concerned.

Brobbey exchanged passes with Gakpo, earlier than the Anfield attacker crossed in low from the left for his team-mate to stab in from shut vary.

Sweden, who thrashed Tunisia 5-1 of their first sport, couldn’t deal with Brobbey’s muscular presence.

Up entrance the much-vaunted assault of Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal had been feeding on scraps for Sweden.

Gakpo’s half

Twelve minutes after his opener Brobbey made it 2-0 when a deflected Denzel Dumfries cross from the precise fell completely into his path and he toe-poked previous Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

Sweden’s English coach Graham Potter was in deep discussions together with his backroom workers as the sport threatened to run away from them.

On the unpopular hydration break Potter made a beeline for left-sided defender Gabriel Gudmundsson of Leeds United, who was being overrun by the flying Dumfries and Donyell Malen.

Sweden then had their greatest likelihood, Gyokeres crossing for an unmarked Yasin Ayari who utterly miscontrolled the ball together with his chest.

Gyokeres was subsequent to fluff a very good likelihood, failing to make correct contact after being performed in by the largely nameless Isak.

Gyokeres and Ayari twice each had additional sights of aim, solely to be denied by the more and more overworked Verbruggen.

The Netherlands had been hanging on by finish of the half.

Koeman despatched on Summerville for Malen on the break, and two minutes later it was mission unimaginable for Sweden, Gakpo prodding in from shut vary after yet one more harmful low cross from Dumfries.

All three targets had been strikingly related.

Gakpo scored a stunning fourth on 54 minutes, turning inside his defender earlier than firing low into the underside nook.

Nottingham Forest winger Elanga pulled one again 5 minutes later when he raced away from the Dutch defence and rattled the ball previous Verbruggen.

West Ham’s Summerville made it 5 within the dying minutes together with his second aim in North America.

Sweden face Japan subsequent whereas the Netherlands play Tunisia.