Reijnders treble sets up Netherlands’ seven-goal rout of Greece

The Netherlands produced a dominant attacking display under manager Xavi Hernandez as they beat Greece 7-0 in Amsterdam on Friday in the fifth round of the Nations League.

The hosts turned the match at the Johan Cruyff Arena into a one-sided contest, scoring seven times within the opening 66 minutes as Greece struggled to contain their movement and pressure.

Crysencio Summerville opened the scoring after six minutes before Tijjani Reijnders doubled the Netherlands’ lead six minutes later. Reijnders struck again in the 18th minute to put the hosts firmly in control.

Greece briefly appeared to have responded when Fotis Ioannidis found the net in the 24th minute, but the goal was ruled out following a review by the video assistant referee.

The Netherlands continued to overwhelm the visitors and Reijnders completed his hat-trick in the 33rd minute, making it 4-0 and registering the Netherlands’ fourth goal of the evening.

Jurrien Timber added a fifth in the 40th minute, sending the Netherlands into half-time with a five-goal advantage and leaving Greece facing a near-impossible task after a one-sided first half.

The pattern remained unchanged after the interval. Timber scored his second goal of the match and the Netherlands’ sixth in the 59th minute, before Donyell Malen added another two minutes later.

The result carried added significance because both teams had started the match on eight points. Neither had lost any of their opening four matches, making the meeting a direct contest for top spot in Group Two in League A.

Their previous meeting in the current Nations League campaign had been much closer. Greece took a two-goal lead in the match on 1 October, but the Netherlands fought back in the second half to secure a 2-2 draw, with both sides taking a point.

There was no repeat of that contest in Amsterdam, where the Netherlands established control from the opening minutes. They repeatedly found space in the Greek defence and made full use of the quick attacking movements of Reijnders, Timber and Malen.

Greece’s inability to deal with those runs left the visitors under sustained pressure, while the Netherlands converted their superiority into a commanding scoreline before the match had reached the final stages.