Two stunning goals from Esmee Brugts helped Netherlands put Vietnam to the sword in a 7-0 win which saw them pip United States to top spot in Group E of the Women’s World Cup.
Brugts twice fired in from distance as the Dutch took advantage of the defending champion’s 0-0 draw with Portugal to set up a likely last-16 tie against Italy, with Sweden, South Africa or Argentina also possible opponents.
Lieke Martens, Katja Snoeijs, Jill Roord (2) and Danielle van de Donk also bagged as Vietnam exited their maiden World Cup with three defeats from three.
The emphasis was always going to be on how many goals the Dutch would need to score if they were going to overhaul the US and they did not take long to get going.
They opened the floodgates in the eighth minute when Dominique Janssen’s long ball was perfect for Martens to collect and she lobbed the goalkeeper for her 60th national team goal, which takes her second on the list behind Vivianne Miedema.
Snoeijs netted three minutes later as the Everton striker found the bottom corner after being left in acres of space before Brugts came to the party with a sublime curling effort that sailed into the top corner from 20 yards.
Roord had a simple tap-in in the 23rd minute for her first goal after brilliant work down the left by Janssen and Van de Donk made it 5-0 on the stroke of half-time with another close-range finish.
Brugts stole the limelight with a rocket just before the hour as she arrowed a right-footed effort into the far corner for one of the goals of the tournament so far.
Roord’s second was a simple header from close range in the final 10 minutes as the Netherlands claimed the biggest win of the competition to date.
