World Cup Qualifying: Depay Sets Scoring Record As Dutch Survive Scare In Lithuania

Memphis Depay group a caller scoring grounds for nan Netherlands arsenic his double ensured they survived a scare successful beating Lithuania 3-2 distant successful their World Cup qualifier connected Sunday.

Two goals for nan 31-year-old Depay took his nationalist squad tally to 52, going up of Robin van Persie’s erstwhile record, and putting nan Netherlands apical of nan Group G standings pinch 10 points from 4 games, 3 up of Poland, who are hosting Finland later connected Sunday.

Depay had nan Dutch up successful nan 11th infinitesimal arsenic they looked to put speech nan disappointment of Thursday’s 1-1 location tie against Poland successful Rotterdam, volleying location from adjacent scope arsenic Cody Gakpo pulled backmost a walk from nan byline and being hoisted onto his teammates’ shoulders successful celebration.

Midfielder Quinten Timber past sewage his first world extremity arsenic nan Dutch doubled nan lead successful nan 33rd infinitesimal and look to beryllium cruising to an easy win. But Lithuania past scored doubly successful nan abstraction of 7 minutes to level nan people by halftime successful a abrupt move around. First a mazy information from wrong his ain half by location skipper Justas Lasickas drew nan Dutch defence and group up Gvidas Gineitis for a 36th-minute strike. Gineitis past floated a free-kick successful nan 43rd infinitesimal for Edvinas Girdvainis to powerfulness a header location arsenic he roseate easy supra Gakpo.

Dutch angst was extinguished successful nan 64th infinitesimal arsenic Depay roseate majestically to powerfulness location a header from Denzel Dumfries’ transverse from nan correct flank and guarantee a valuable 3 constituent haul arsenic they activity a spot astatine adjacent year’s finals successful North America.

Gakpo deed nan woodwork successful nan 70th infinitesimal arsenic nan Dutch sought an security extremity but Lithuania ne'er gave up their quest for an equaliser and it was pinch overmuch alleviation that Ronald Koeman’s squad greeted nan last whistle.

Lithuania (143) were nan lowest-ranked broadside to people a extremity against nan Dutch since 1992 erstwhile Fifa introduced nan world rankings.