Depay, Haaland Hit Hat-Tricks To Inspire World Cup Qualifying Wins
8th September 2021
With four games to go, the Dutch are top with 13 points, level with Norway who were 5-1 winners against Gibraltar.
- Memphis Depay continued his superb run of form as he hit a hat-trick to inspire Netherlands to a 6-1 rout of Turkey to go top of Group G
- In Group D, Antoine Griezmann scored a brace as France beat Finland 2-0 to put daylight between them and second place Ukraine
- Portugal, who were without star Cristiano Ronaldo, emerged 3-0 winners against Azerbaijan to go top of Group D with 13 points
Memphis Depay continued his superb run of form as he hit a hat-trick to inspire Netherlands to a 6-1 rout of Turkey to go top of Group G.
The Barcelona forward was exceptional throughout the encounter and after his assist for Davy Klaasen's opener he went on a scoring spree, marking his first international hat-trick.
With four games to go, the Dutch are top with 13 points, level with Norway who were 5-1 winners against Gibraltar.
Turkey were relegated to third place and had to finish the game with 10 men after Leicester City's Caglar Soyuncu was sent off just before half-time.
The magnificent goal-scoring exploits of Erling Braut Haaland continued as he also netted thrice in Norway's six-goal thriller.
Haaland has now scored five goals in three games during this international break.
Kristian Thorstvedt opened the scoring and then provided the assist for Haaland to make it 2-0, the Dortmund forward then got his second before Reece Styche's lob made it 3-1.
Alexander Sorloth pounced on a loose ball to restore Norway's three-goal lead in the second half and Haaland tapped in his third in injury time.
In Group D, Antoine Griezmann scored a brace as France beat Finland 2-0 to put daylight between them and second place Ukraine.
The 2018 World Cup winners coped without injured Kylian Mbappe as Griezmann combined with Karim Benzema for both of France's goals.
His 39th and 40th international strikes drew him level with Michel Platini in the all-time scoring charts for his nation.
Portugal, who were without star Cristiano Ronaldo, emerged 3-0 winners against Azerbaijan to go top of Group D with 13 points.
Bernardo Silva, Andre Silva and Diogo Jota were on target for Fernando Santos' side.
Serbia failed to seize the opportunity to go level with Portugal after a late bizarre own goal gifted The Republic of Ireland a 1-1 draw.
Elsewhere, Denmark turned up the heat as they demolished Israel 5-0 to make it six wins in a row in the qualifiers.
The Danes have scored 22 times and have not conceded even one goal in that run, making the 2022 World Cup almost a certainty.
Scotland remain hot on their heels and continued to impress as they held on to beat a resilient Austria 1-0 on the night to maintain second place.