Houston, Jun 21 (V7N) – The Netherlands produced a commanding display to defeat Sweden 5-1 in their third Group F match, with Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo each scoring twice in a one-sided contest at NRG Stadium in Houston on Saturday (June 20).
The Dutch took control of the match from the outset. Brian Brobbey opened the scoring in the fifth minute, tapping home a perfectly weighted pass from Cody Gakpo to give the Netherlands an early advantage.
Brobbey doubled the lead in the 17th minute, finishing a precise long pass from Denzel Dumfries down the right flank. The Sunderland forward's second strike marked his third international goal.
Sweden struggled to respond as the Netherlands dominated possession and created several chances. Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen preserved the two-goal lead with two outstanding saves before halftime, ensuring the Dutch entered the break 2-0 ahead.
The Netherlands continued their attacking dominance after the restart. Just two minutes into the second half, Cody Gakpo made it 3-0 with a clinical finish after another assist from Denzel Dumfries.
Gakpo struck again in the 54th minute, firing home a superb effort to score his fourth goal for the national team. The Liverpool forward's second goal of the match also marked the 100th goal of the tournament.
Sweden pulled one back in the 59th minute when substitute Anthony Elanga finished a swift counter-attack to reduce the deficit.
However, the Dutch had the final say. Crescencio Summerville capped an impressive team performance by scoring the fifth goal in the 89th minute with a composed finish, sealing a comprehensive 5-1 victory.
The emphatic win strengthens the Netherlands' position in Group F and underlines their credentials as one of the tournament's strongest contenders.
END/SMA/AJ
