06/20/26 02:15:00
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06/20 14:13 CDT Brobbey and Gakpo strike twice each as Netherlands routs Sweden
5-1 to lead Group F
Brobbey and Gakpo strike twice each as Netherlands routs Sweden 5-1 to lead
Group F
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) --- Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo scored two goals apiece to power
Netherlands to a 5-1 win over Sweden on Saturday in the World Cup to bounce
back after a disappointing draw in its opener and move atop the Group F
standings.
Brobbey's goals came in the first half, helping the Netherlands get off to a
great start and roll to the big win after playing Japan to a 2-2 draw Sunday.
The victory gives Netherlands a group-leading four points. Sweden has three
points, with Japan and Tunisia scheduled to play later Saturday.
Gakpo, who also had an assist, extended the lead to 3-0 just after halftime,
scoring in the 47th minute off a cross from Denzel Dumfries. He matched Brobbey
when he scored on a right-footed shot from the left box in the 54th minute.
Sweden couldn't build on its strong performance in a 5-1 walloping of Tunisia
in its first match. The loss to the Dutch was its biggest World Cup defeat
since losing 7-1 to Brazil in 1950.
The Dutch gameplan to play out wide to open up Sweden and cross to Brobbey
worked perfectly early. He put the Netherlands on top in the fifth minute when
Gakpo crossed into the middle of the box and Brobbey one-timed it with his
right foot before tumbling forward to the grass.
His second goal came when he took a cross from Dumfries while sliding and just
got his right foot on the ball, scoring inside the far post in the 17th minute.
Anthony Elanga's left-footed goal cut the lead to 4-1 in the 59th minute and
allowed Sweden to avoid the shutout.
Sweden had plenty of chances to score before that, but Netherlands' goalkeeper
Bart Verbruggen was brilliant in the first half with four saves.
Sweden appeared to have cut the lead to 2-1 on a header by Gustaf Lagerbielke
in the 44th minute, but he was ruled offside. Lagerbielke is a baron from a
noble family in Sweden. His father and grandfather are counts.
But he wasn't the only royalty in the stadium Saturday as the Netherlands had
two very special guests cheering them on with King Willem-Alexander and Queen
Mxima watching from a luxury suite.
The crowd of 68,777 was largely made up of fans of the Netherlands, many of
whom made their Oranje Fanwalk 2 1/2 miles from Rice University to Houston
Stadium on Saturday morning.
Crysencio Summerville, who assisted on Gakpo's second goal, tacked on a goal
for Netherlands in the 89th minute and celebrated with NBA star Steph Curry's
"night night" gesture.
Sweden finishes group play Thursday night against Japan at Dallas Stadium, and
Netherlands meets Tunisia that night in Kansas City.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
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