Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania: Gakpo, Reijnders & co strike as Oranje qualify for WC

Cody Gakpo starred for the Netherlands as they earned a 4-0 win over Lithuania, which sends them to the 2026 World Cup.

Match Report

Ronald Koeman's side had all but secured their place at next year's tournament, but three goals in four second-half minutes ensured there were no nerves in their final game.

Lithuania were caught playing out from the back in the 16th minute, with Tijjani Reijnders spinning to meet Frenkie de Jong's throughball and rifle his effort into the top-left corner.

He arguably should have had a second shortly after; he broke through the defence once more, only to bend his outside-of-the-boot shot off the left post.

Lithuania offered very little threat, but a second-half collapse ensured there was no way back into the game after Artemijus Tutyskinas was penalised for a handball.

Gakpo confidently swept home the resulting penalty in the 58th minute, and Xavi Simons added a second just two minutes later. He latched onto Gakpo's low cross and curled his effort around the defender and into the roof of the net.

Donyell Malen then added some gloss to the scoreline, racing forward down the right after a Lithuania corner was cleared, and he cut inside to poke a powerful shot past a helpless Edvinas Gertmonas.

Substitute Emmanuel Emegha hit the post late on, but the job was already done for the Netherlands. They finish three points clear in Group G of Poland, who beat Malta 3-2 to secure their play-off place.

Line-ups

Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Timber, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Aké; Reinjders, Frenkie De Jong; Xavi Simons, Malen, Gakpo; Memphis Depay.

Subs: Flekken, Schouten, Lang, Geertruida, Gravenberch, Timber, Van de Ven, Roefs, Emegha, Valente

Lithuania XI: Gertmonas; Tutyskinas, Armalas, Utkus; Sirvys, Gineitis, Vorobjovas, Sirgedas, Lasickas; Cernych, Kalinauskas.

Subs: Švedkauskas, Bartkus, Beneta, Šimkus, Upstas, Olberkis, Dubickas, Golubickas, Paulauskas, Lekiatas, Burba, Micevičius