Memphis Depay scored a double as the Netherlands ended 25 years without a win against neighbor Belgium with a 4-1 win over 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 almost six-year unbeaten home record in a significant turnaround for the team, which topped the FIFA rankings for three years before being recently ousted.
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Bergwijn hammered home from outside the box in the 40th minute to give the Dutch a deserved half-time lead before Depay and Dumfries added more in a crucial second-half performance.
Belgium, who lost Romelu Lukaku early on through injury, scored a consolation goal three minutes after added time through Michy Batshuayi but were heavily exposed at the back and the result will be a major setback as they prepare for the World Cup later this year.
The Dutch, who last beat Belgium in 1997 and have since gone eight derbies without success, tore the home defense apart in the second half when Depay added the second on a 51st-minute counterattack after a midfield steal from Davy Klaassen and a quick pass You the middle of Steven Berghuis.
Full-back Daley Blind was the quickest to react to a rebound from a Berghuis shot 11 minutes later and set up the third goal with an over-the-face pass that Dumfries pocketed at the back post.
Blind followed up the run with a header three minutes later from Depay, who expertly deflected the ball with his thigh and slotted it past Simon Mignolet from close range.
“The fact that this international match comes after a busy season should not be an excuse. Especially not when you play against the Netherlands,” said Mignolet.
“We have to learn from that. You can’t just let a defeat like that pass you by.”
Belgium went for the consolation goal 13 minutes from time, but Michy Batshuayi was ruled offside in the run-up when Timothy Castagne put the ball in the net. A VAR check prevented Belgium from scoring but they got a consolation right at the end of the game.
Belgium last lost a home game in a friendly against Spain in September 2016 when coach Roberto Martinez officiated their first game.
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said he was not surprised by the away win.
“We analyzed them well and implemented our plans, we did it very well,” he said. “It was an excellent night.”