Virgil van Dijk scores quality goal as Liverpool & Man Utd flops punish awful Portugal

Virgil van Dijk scored a fine goal to punish a lacklustre Portugal, leaving Fernando Santos side 3-0 down to the Netherlands at half-time.

The Liverpool defender was part of a trio of familiar scorers, with Manchester United and Liverpool flops Memphis Depay and Ryan Babel also scoring against the European champions.

Depay, who is enjoying a fine season with Lyon, put the Dutch in the lead with a stretched finish.

More: Football

Holland take the lead against Portugal. Against the run of play really as Memphis Depay strikes from inside the box. The Dutch employing a really weird 5-3-2. Good to see the like of Rolando and Manuel Fernandes back in the Portuguese set-up too. pic.twitter.com/fkxbIAzYDt

— Deepan (@dfordeeps) March 26, 2018

Babel then thumped a header into the back of the net to pile misery onto Santos side, which left Cristiano Ronaldo berating his team-mates for their shoddy defending.

– Ryan Babels lovely header to make it 2-0. pic.twitter.com/fhPNqpznyz

— Besiktas Talk (@BesiktasTalk) March 26, 2018

And on the stroke of half-time Van Dijk slammed home a third for the Dutch, who enjoyed a remarkable half.

En dat is 3-0 voor het Nederlands Elftal tegen Portugal. Doelpuntenmaker Virgil van Dijk. #PorNed#Koemanpic.twitter.com/wsP5jWkzQa

— Frank Koken (@FrankKoken) March 26, 2018

Ronald Koemans team were beaten by England on Friday night after Jesse Lingards sole strike but they wont be involved in Russia this summer.

AdvertisementAdvertisement

Portugal, who have qualified for the World Cup after winning Euro 2016 will certainly be asking serious questions after what was an appalling first half of football.

More: Manchester United FC

AdvertisementAdvertisement

[contf]
[contfnew]

METRO

[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]