Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo scored two goals each as the Netherlands cruised to a commanding 5-1 victory over Sweden, all but securing their place in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup.
Brobbey was a surprise inclusion in Ronald Koeman’s starting lineup, replacing Crysencio Summerville, who had impressed and scored in the Netherlands’ 2-2 draw with Japan. The striker wasted little time justifying his selection.
The Dutch opened the scoring in the fifth minute following a swift move that began with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Brobbey controlled a long pass before releasing Gakpo down the left flank and then sprinted into the box to convert the winger’s low cross.
Brobbey doubled both his tally and the Netherlands’ lead 12 minutes later, stabbing home from Denzel Dumfries’ low delivery after getting the better of Sweden defender Isak Hien.
Sweden thought they had pulled a goal back in first-half stoppage time when Gustaf Lagerbielke headed into an empty net after beating Verbruggen to a free-kick, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Any hopes of a Swedish comeback were extinguished less than two minutes into the second half when Gakpo tapped in at the back post from another dangerous Dumfries cross.
Gakpo grabbed his second goal in the 54th minute after Summerville, introduced at halftime, drove forward and set up the Liverpool forward, who fired a low shot beyond goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
The goal also marked the 100th scored at the tournament, reached in just 33 matches — the fastest century of goals at a World Cup since the 1958 edition.
Sweden managed a consolation goal five minutes later when substitute Anthony Elanga latched onto a through ball and delicately lifted his effort past Verbruggen.
Summerville capped an impressive second-half display by adding a fifth goal late on, cutting inside before finding the bottom corner.
The result sends the Netherlands to the top of Group F with four points, while Sweden will likely need a positive result against Japan in their final group-stage match to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds alive.
