Netherlands bounce back but Turkey in control

Turkey’s midfielder Ozan Tufan celebrates after scoring against Norway at La Rosaleda stadium in Malaga yesterday.

The Netherlands secured their first win in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup yesterday by beating Latvia 2-0 in Amsterdam, but Turkey took control of Group G with an impressive victory over Norway.Turkey, who beat the Dutch 4-2 on Thursday, made it two wins from two games as they cruised past Erling Braut Haaland’s Norway in a match played in Malaga, Spain.Montenegro also have six points from two outings after following their success against Latvia with a 4-1 home win over Gibraltar.Frank de Boer’s Dutchmen gave the 5,000 fans allowed to attend at the Johan Cruyff Arena something to cheer as Steven Berghuis’s 32nd-minute goal and Luuk de Jong’s second-half strike saw off Latvia.The Netherlands failed to qualify for either Euro 2016 or the 2018 World Cup, but are among the title favourites for this year’s delayed Euro 2020.Fenerbahce midfielder Ozan Tufan scored twice as Turkey beat a dangerous Norway side 3-0. Leicester centre-back Caglar Soyuncu also enjoyed a fine performance as he netted the second goal and helped keep Borussia Dortmund striker Haaland quiet.Earlier in the day, Stevan Jovetic made it three goals in two matches as Montenegro saw off Gibraltar.They sit second in what looks to be a very competitive group, behind Turkey on goal difference.Russia, World Cup quarter-finalists on home soil three years ago, moved top of the early Group H table with a 2-1 victory over Slovenia, who had started their campaign by beating 2018 runners-up Croatia.Artem Dzyuba’s first-half double proved enough for Russia in Sochi, despite Atalanta forward Josip Ilicic halving the deficit before half-time.Croatia struggled to find their best form again, but Mario Pasalic’s goal five minutes before the break helped Zlatko Dalic’s men edge out Cyprus 1-0 in Rijeka.Belarus came from behind to win their first game in Group E, 4-2 against Estonia, who were also thrashed 6-2 by the Czech Republic on Wednesday.