[Goals Highlight] Van Dijk, Depay Score As Holland Thrash Portugal 3-0 In Friendly Match (Watch)

Akinbode Ibrahim March 27, 2018

Netherlands kick-started their new era in international football as they cruised to a 3-0 friendly victory over European champions Portugal on Monday, with Ronald Koeman enjoying his first win since becoming the Oranje’s coach in February.

The Dutch are still rebuilding after a disastrous World Cup qualification campaign, but they showed plenty of promise in Geneva, crushing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal just three days after a disappointing defeat at home to England in Koeman’s bow.

Memphis Depay, recently in the news for claiming he has the ability to be the world’s best player, put in a particularly good display to upstage Ballon d’Or holder Ronaldo, putting the Dutch ahead with a smart finish early on.

Ryan Babel doubled their lead, before captain Virgil van Dijk produced a fine strike late in the half to open up an unassailable three-goal deficit.

Portugal stunned Egypt on Friday by scoring twice late on to win 2-1, but any hope of a more miraculous turnaround evaporated with Joao Cancelo’s sending off just past the hour for a second bookable offence.

And Netherlands ultimately eased to an impressive victory, highlighting the significant strides they have made since Danny Blind’s dismissal exactly one year earlier.