Overview

• Cody Gakpo converted spot-kicks in the 12th minute and early in the second half, then set up Tijjani Reijnders for the third on 57 minutes.
• Memphis Depay, who joined late after a passport issue in Brazil, came off the bench to head a stoppage-time fourth and extend his Netherlands record to 53 goals.
• Gakpo had a potential hat-trick effort ruled out for offside as the Dutch controlled a match that also featured a goalkeeper error leading to Reijnders’ goal.
• The victory moves the Netherlands to 13 points and three ahead of Poland and Finland, with Finland having played one game more after beating Lithuania 2-1.
• Malta remain winless at the bottom of Group G with two points from six matches as the group winner qualifies directly and the runner-up faces the playoffs.