The Netherlands took firm control of Group E by routing main rival Sweden 4-1 Tuesday for its fourth straight win in European Championship qualifying.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Affellay scored two goals each as the Dutch used efficient counterattacks to take advantage of poor Swedish defending.
Huntelaar put the Netherlands in front after just four minutes and Afellay doubled the advantage in the 36th after Sweden gave the ball away in midfield.
Huntelaar made it 3-0 by heading Afellay's cross in the 55th before the Schalke forward returned the favor four minutes later to end Sweden's unbeaten start to qualifying.
Andreas Granqvist scored a consolation for Sweden in the 69th.
The Netherlands has 12 points from four games. Sweden has six points from three.
''It was difficult how they played with (Ola) Toivonen and Zlatan Ibrahimovic,'' said captain Mark van Bommel. ''But we managed. Compliments to my team. They played fantastic football.''
The opening goal came on a clinical counterattack as defender Joris Mathijsen made a crossfield run and released the ball to onrushing Wesley Sneijder, who cleverly picked out unmarked Raphael van der Vaart. The Tottenham midfielder's precise pass easily made its way to Huntelaar, who slammed the ball past goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.
''We always want to play like that and now we scored the goals,'' Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said. ''It often depends on scoring - it makes you play more relaxed.''
A minute later, Sneijder blasted a ferocious long-range shot but it hit the sidenetting. The Inter Milan midfielder kept tormenting the Swedes, ripping another 30-yard shot which Isaksson palmed away for a corner in the 13th.
Sneijder was also involved in the Netherlands's second, streaking upfield to collect the ball after poor Swedish throw-in. He fed Afellay, who fired a low shot from close range for his first international goal.
''This is beautiful,'' Afellay said. ''It was a very important match and we played really well. It's fantastic.''
Huntelaar scored his eighth goal of the qualifying campaign by heading in Afellay's cross in the 55th, and then set up his teammate for the fourth. Huntelaar now has 24 goals for the Netherlands, bringing him level with Dutch great Marco van Basten.
Appearing reluctant to go forward, Sweden rarely threatened in the opening minutes and needed 22 minutes to create its first chance.
Toivonen, who plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league, came one-on-one with an onrushing Maarten Stekelenburg but sent his lob over the goalkeeper wide of the right post.
Toivonen's left-footed volley in the 52nd needed a good save from Stekelenburg, before Sweden finally broke through when Granqvist was left unmarked to score after a free kick.
