Depay joins Dutch greats with sublime hat-trick to move level with Cruyff

In: Sport

MEMPHIS DEPAY moved level with Holland legend Johan Cruyff on 33 goals for his country in a sensational 6-1 thrashing of Turkey at the Amsterdam Arena.

The Dutch made the perfect start to the game when Davy Klaassen opened the scoring inside the first minute.

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It was a special night for Depay in the Dutch capitalCredit: AP
He rounded off his hat-trick with a close range header

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He rounded off his hat-trick with a close range headerCredit: AP

Depay then made it two after a quarter of an hour, firing home home superbly following a wonderful team move.

Seven minutes before half-time the Lyon forward doubled his tally for the evening from the penalty spot.

Depay opted to go for an audacious Panenka penalty and it came off as he sat Turkish keeper Ugurcan Cakir down with a supremely confident finish.

Holland were running riot in a match which saw Turkey and Leicester defender Caglar Soyuncu dismissed in the 44th minute for a second yellow card.

And Depay netted the home side’s fourth of the evening shortly after half-time, heading home from close range to complete his hat-trick.

The goal moved Depay into joint-eighth on Holland’s all-time top scorers list alongside Cruyff and Abe Lenstra.

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Depay is a modern day Dutch legend having netted 33 times for his country

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Depay is a modern day Dutch legend having netted 33 times for his countryCredit: Getty
Cruyff is widely regarded as Holland's greatest player of all time

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Cruyff is widely regarded as Holland’s greatest player of all timeCredit: PA:Empics Sport

It was also Depay’s 12th goal of 2021, levelling the Dutch record for most goals in a calendar year alongside Patrick Kluivert in 2000.

Guus Til made it 5-0 to the Dutch 10 minutes from the end as a depleted Turkey were completely torn apart.

And it was six in the final minute of normal time as Donyell Malen added his name to the score sheet.

Cengiz Under netted a consolation in the dying seconds as Holland ran out 6-1 victors.

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The comprehensive victory leaves Louis van Gaal’s Dutch side top of their World Cup Qualifying group with four games remaining.

They sit level with Norway on 13 points but have a far superior goal difference.

Elsewhere in Group G, Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland netted a hat-trick of his own as they swatted aside Gibraltar 5-1 to keep pace with Holland.

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