Netherlands routs San Marino 11-0 in qualifier

Published Sep. 2, 2011 10:34 p.m. ET

foxsports

Robin van Persie scored four goals as the Netherlands recorded its biggest ever victory by routing San Marino 11-0 in a Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday.

The Netherlands took the lead when Van Persie slotted home Mark van Bommel's long-range pass after six minutes of the Group E game.

Wesley Sneijder expertly doubled the Netherlands's advantage six minutes later with a right-footed effort from around 30 yards (meters). Defender John Heitinga headed in Dirk Kuyt's cross in the 17th and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar set up Kuyt for the fourth in the 48th.

Huntelaar completed a move started by Van Persie for the fifth in the 56th. Van Persie then scored three times in 15 minutes, while further goals from Huntelaar, Sneijder and Georginio Wijnaldum completed the rout and moved their team to the verge of a place at Euro 2012.

''It's not the toughest opponent around,'' Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said. ''We were relaxing a bit toward the end and that is not acceptable. It's annoying. The compliment is that they played as a team.''

Friday's winning margin beat the Netherlands' previous record of 9-0 victories over Finland (1912) and Sweden (1972).

It now leads the group with 21 points from seven matches, followed by Sweden and Hungary which both have 15 points.

The 2010 World Cup finalist, parading its strength in attack, enjoyed superior possession throughout the match.

Van Persie cleverly tapped in Van Bommel's curling pass to open scoring before Sneijder's individual effort.

Heitinga headed home Kuyt's cross before the Netherlands' possession-based passing game created a chance for Kuyt, who had the simplest of tasks in pouncing on Huntelaar's cross.

Van Persie and Sneijder exchanged passes, effortlessly setting up Huntelaar, who grabbed the fifth. Van Persie, who also missed a string of chances, scored two quickfire goals in the 65th and 67th minutes - driving in a low shot from close range before smashing home a rebound from the edge of the area.

San Marino failed to produce a shot on target.

Chances kept coming for the Netherlands and Huntelaar, Van Persie and Sneijder, who slipped through the San Marino defense, all found the net before PSV winger Wijnaldum scored on his debut to wrap up the win.

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Lineups:

Netherlands: Maarten Stekelenburg, Gregory van der Wiel, John Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Erik Pieters, Mark van Bommel (Hedwiges Maduro 74), Robin van Persie, Kevin Strootman (Georginio Wijnaldum 86), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt (Eljero Elia 74)

San Marino: Aldo Simoncini, Fabio Vitaioli, Damiano Vannucci, Fabio Bollini (Alex Gasperoni 68), Davide Simoncini (Simone Bacciocchi 82), Giacomo Benedettini, Matteo Andreini, Michele Cervellini, Pier Filippo Mazza (Matteo Coppini 54), Andy Selva, Matteo Vitaioli