Euro 2016: Holland thrash Latvia

Sport360 staff 23:49 16/11/2014
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  • Quick off the blocks: Robin Van Persie scored in the sixth minute for the Netherlands.

    Holland thrashed Latvia 6-0 in Amsterdam as their Euro 2016 Group A qualifying campaign finally kicked into life.

    Manager Guus Hiddink had threatened to walk away if the Oranje were been beaten again, having seen his side defeated in both away games so far against the Czech Republic and Iceland.

    The Dutch, who reached the World Cup semi-finals, responded as Robin van Persie scored after just six minutes with his 48th international goal.

    Rampant Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben cracked home a second (35) and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (42) made it 3-0 before half-time.

    PSV Eindhoven defender Jeffrey Bruma (78) scored his first international goal after a corner, with Robben (82) and Huntelaar (89) completing the rout of Marians Pahars' men.

    The victory came at a cost, however, with Manchester United's defensive midfielder Daley Blind having limped off in the first half.

    Cyprus recovered form in Group B, as they beat Andorra 5-0 in Nicosia.

    Apoel winger George Efrem became the first Cypriot to score an international hat-trick when slotting home on the hour following a first-half brace (31  42) after Giorgos Merkis had set the hosts on their way with a ninth minute goal.

    Dimitris Christofi (86) added a late fifth from the penalty spot as Cyprus recorded a second qualifying win in the group following successive defeats.

    Wales remain top after battling to a goalless draw against Belgium in Brussels.

    The early kick off in Group H saw Norway pick up a valuable 1-0 win away to Azerbaijan through a first-half header by Havard Nordtveit of Borussia Monchengladbach.

    Gianluigi Buffon's first-half clanger helped Croatia claim a 1-1 draw away in Italy to leave the two sides tied at the top of Group H.

    Antonio Candreva put the hosts after after 11 minutes, but their lead was short-lived though as Ivan Perisic's low shot squirmed underneath the body of Buffon to make it 1-1. 

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