Memphis Depay scored a brace as the Netherlands ended a 25-year losing streak against neighboring Belgium with a 4-1 draw against their hosts in the Nations League in Brussels on Friday.
Steven Bergwijn and Denzel Dumfries scored the other two goals as the Dutch ended Belgium’s nearly six-year home unbeaten record in a brutal upset for the side, which had topped the FIFA rankings for three years until his recent dismissal.
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Bergwijn hammered outside the box in the 40th minute to give the Dutch a deserved half-time lead before Depay and Dumfries added more in the second half in a decisive performance.
Belgium, who lost Romelu Lukaku to injury early on, scored a consolation three minutes into stoppage time through Michy Batshuayi but were badly exposed at the back and the result will be a serious setback as the preparation for the World Cup later this year.
The Dutch, who last beat Belgium in 1997 and had played eight unsuccessful derbies since, tore through the home defense in the second half as Depay added the second in the 51st minute on a counterattack after a steal to Davy Klaassen’s midfield and a quick pass through Steven Berghuis’ midfield.
Fullback Daley Blind reacted quickest to a rebound from a save from a Berghuis shot 11 minutes later to set up the third goal with a pass in front of goal which Dumfries slid past the back post.
Blind then provided another assist three minutes later with a header in the way of Depay, who deftly cleared the ball away with his thigh before knocking it home from close range past Simon Mignolet.
“That this international game comes after a trying season shouldn’t be an excuse. Certainly not when you’re playing against the Netherlands,” Mignolet said.
“We have to learn from this. You can’t let such a defeat slip away.”
Belgium were looking for a consolation goal 13 minutes from time but Michy Batshuayi was offside in the build-up to Timothy Castagne putting the ball into the net. A VAR check denied Belgium a goal, but they were given a consolation at the end of the game.
Belgium last lost a home game to Spain in September 2016 when manager Roberto Martinez took charge of their opener.
Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk said he was not surprised by the away win.
“We analyzed them well and we executed our plans, we did it very well,” he said. “It was a great evening.”