Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay made sure of the Netherlands’ place at the 2022 World Cup with late goals in a 2-0 victory against Norway on Tuesday.
Turkey’s 2-1 win against Montenegro kept the pressure on the Netherlands, but they still needed only a point to secure their qualification and got more than that in the closing stages at De Kuip.
Bergwijn netted with six minutes left when he fired high into the net before Depay put the result beyond doubt with a goal on the break in injury time.
While the Oranje finished as Group G winners, Norway slipped to third and missed out on a place in the play-offs having failed to register a shot on target across the entire contest.
With coach Louis van Gaal watching from the stands in a wheelchair after falling off his bicycle and suffering a hip injury, the Netherlands were the more adventurous side in a tepid first half.
However, Depay scarcely tested Orjan Nyland with two straightforward attempts, first flicking a Denzel Dumfries cross towards goal and then striking an ambitious volley too close to the goalkeeper.
Norway offered precious little without injured superstar Erling Haaland, although Kristian Thorstvedt wastefully missed the target when a long throw dropped for him in the second half.
Needing the victory more than the Netherlands with Turkey winning, Stale Solbakken’s side pressed higher up the pitch, only to be picked off at the other end.
Bergwijn received the ball from Arnaut Danjuma and struck decisively beyond Nyland, and Depay then put the gloss on the win when he converted after being unselfishly found by Bergwijn following a counter-attack.
What does it mean? Oranje back but heartbreak for Norway
After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, securing automatic qualification for next year’s tournament in Qatar was mission accomplished for the Netherlands.
The Oranje had not lost to Norway since 1992 and their miserly defence never gave their opponents a sniff in this encounter.
For Norway, who have neither qualified for a World Cup since 1998 nor reached any major tournament since Euro 2000, the defeat was heartbreaking.
Deadly Depay
Depay had six shots, including four on target, and his attacking intent kept Norway on the back foot and prevented the Netherlands from retreating. He finished with 12 goals in the qualifying campaign.
Sloth-like Sorloth
Norway’s attack was led by Alexander Sorloth but the number nine was largely anonymous as he failed to have a single shot in the game and did not touch the ball inside the opposition box.