Netherlands crush Cote d'Ivoire in Rotterdam friendly

Rotterdam, June 5: In the build-up to the 2018 football World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg set for Friday in Rotterdam, the Netherlands booked their second consecutive friendly win, a 5-0 against Cote d'Ivoire here.

After the 2-1 win last Wednesday against Morocco in Agadir, Morocco, interim head coach Fred Grim on Sunday fielded eight different players that were not used in the previous game. Only striker Vincent Janssen, winger Memphis Depay and defender Joel Veltman kept their place, reports Xinhua news agency.

It was Veltman who opened the scoring in the 13th minute by heading in a corner by Depay. It was his first goal for the Dutch national team.

Captain Arjen Robben, one of the new names in the lineup, produced the second goal from the penalty spot. The penalty was given by referee Harald Lechner after the visiting side's goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare had fouled Janssen.

In the 36th minute, Veltman netted for the second time ever in the Dutch national team. He finished a cross by Robben.

In the second half, Davy Klaassen and Vincent Janssen, who also missed a couple of chances, made it 5-0 for the Dutch against a lacklustre visiting side.

The Dutch seem ready for the match against Luxembourg, when new head coach Dick Advocaat, the successor of the fired Danny Blind, will sit on the bench for the first time, with his assistant Ruud Gullit.