MALTA 0
NETHERLANDS 4
Gakpo 12 pen., 48 pen.
Reijnders 59
Depay 90
MALTA
H. Bonello, R. Camenzuli, K. Shaw, M. Guillaumier, J. Mbong (73 A. Magri Overend), I. Chouaref (83 J. Jones), T. Teuma (83 K. Reid), I. Cardona (87 B. Tuma), E. Pepe, J. Corbalan, A. Satariano (73 Y. Yankam).
NETHERLANDS
B. Verbruggen, J. Timber, V. Van Dijk, R. Gravenberch, W. Weghorst (67 M. Depay), C. Gakpo (85 X. Simons), J. Frimpong (67 D. Malen), T. Reijnders, M. Van de Ven (84 Q. Hartman), F. De Jong (67 J. Kluivert), D. Dumfries.
Referee Duje Strukan (Croatia FA).
Yellow cards Camenzuli, Pepe, Cardona, Van Dijk, Teuma.
The Malta national team battled hard but was still not enough to stop a classy Netherlands side who strolled to a comfortable victory in a World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium.
Two penalty goals from Cody Gakpo and another strike from Tijani Reijnders earned the Dutch another three points that lifted them three points clear at the top of Group G, while Malta remained bottom with two points.
It was always going to be difficult for the Maltese against the Euro 2024 semi-finalists, but the home side put on a solid defensive display, particularly in the first 45 minutes, which saw them contain their opponents with goalkeeper Bonello having very little to do.
After the break, the Dutch started to press on the accelerator, and they quickly put the game to bed with two quick-fire goals before added a late fourth to all but seal the match.
Still, there were a lot of positives for coach Di Leo to build as the team remained focused and compact throughout against much stronger opponents and can approach their final two qualifiers against Poland and Finland with the belief that they can produce a competitive display with the ambition of picking more points.
Malta coach Emilio De Leo made four changes from the team that drew 1-1 in Lithuania last month.
Ryan Camenzuli and Juan Corbalan were both handed a starting berth at the expense of Myles Beerman, who started on the bench, while midfield duo Matthew Guillaumier and Teddy Teuma were back in the fray at the expense of Brandon Paiber and the suspended Paul Mbong.
Ronald Koeman, the Dutch coach, named his strongest formation with Liverpool duo Cody Gakpo and Jeremie Frimpong forming the front trio with Wout Weghorst of Ajax.
Memphis Depay, the all-time leading scorer of the Netherlands, started on the bench.
Malta were handed an early chance after two minutes when Virgil Van Dijk anticipated Irvin Cardona but the Liverpool defender’s back pass towards Bart Verbruggen was wayward and was intercepted by Joseph Mbong.
However, the Ħamrun Spartans forward saw his curling drive flash just wide, much to the disappointment of the home fans.
The Dutch gradually started to impose themselves in the match, and Tijani Reijnders forced a fine reflex save by goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
However, the Netherlands struck in their next opportunity as Ryan Gravenberch sped inside the area but was upended by Kurt Shaw with the referee pointing to the spot before Wout Weghorst fired home.
Initially, the referee awarded the goal despite having stopped play for the penalty. The VAR officials intervened, and the referee ordered that the penalty decision had to stand, and from the spot, Cody Gakpo drilled the ball past Bonello.
The Liverpool forward almost struck again a minute later when his curling drive hit the upright.
After that early flurry of chances, Malta started to see more off the ball, but their poor distribution of the ball in the final third hampered their hopes of threatening the Dutch goal.
However, their defensive organisation was frustrating the Dutch, who were finding it tough to create clear-cut chances.
In fact, it was the home side that threatened on 34 minutes when Mbong’s cross fell to Ilyas Chouaref, but the Sion forward’s shot was deflected to a corner.
The Netherlands thought they were awarded a second penalty just before half-time when the referee adjudged that Shaw had blocked Weghorst’s header with his arm. But the VAR intervened to reverse the penalty decision as no handball infringement was committed.
Croatian referee Duje Strukan took centre stage again when, in the opening minute of the second half, he awarded the Dutch a third penalty when Enrico Pepe was sanctioned for pulling down Weghorst inside the area, and from the spot Gakpo made no mistake.
The Dutch tried to kill off the match minutes later, but Frimpong’s shot was pushed away by Bonello.
The Netherlands did add a third goal on 57 minutes when the Maltese tried to play the ball from the back, but the Dutch pressure closed all spaces with Bonello passing straight to Gakpo, who quickly transferred the ball to Reijnders, who fired into an empty.
The match lost much of its intensity with the Dutch threatening 12 minutes from time with Bonello diving to his right to keep out Dumfries’ header.
At the other end, Chouaref found substitute Adam Magri Overend in space but the Sliema wingback’s shot was deflected into the hands of Verbruggen.
The Dutch added a fourth goal in stoppage time when Depay headed home from close in to complete a comfortable victory.
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