Memphis Depay wrote his name into Dutch football history by becoming the Netherlands’ all-time leading scorer after netting twice in a dramatic 3-2 World Cup qualifying win over Lithuania on Sunday.
The 31-year-old, now playing his club football in Brazil with Corinthians, scored his 51st and 52nd international goals to move clear of Robin van Persie at the top of the Oranje scoring charts.
Depay opened the scoring in Kaunas by finishing off a Cody Gakpo cutback before Quinten Timber doubled the visitors’ lead in the 33rd minute.
But Lithuania, ranked 143rd in the world, hit back in stunning fashion. Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis halved the deficit before Edvinas Girdvainis headed in the equaliser before half-time to leave Ronald Koeman’s side rattled.
Depay, however, restored calm after the break, striking his record-breaking second to seal victory and lift the Dutch three points clear at the top of Group G with 10 points from four games.
Poland and Finland, both on seven points, will meet later to determine who can keep the closest pressure on the group leaders. Lithuania sit fourth with three points from five matches.
Elsewhere, in Group E, Georgia eased past Bulgaria 3-0 in Tbilisi thanks to goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nika Gagnidze, and Georges Mikautadze. Spain face Turkey later, while Germany and Belgium are also in action.
