Holland hammers Russia 5-1 in Euro tourney

Holland’s youth squad defeated Russia’s Under-21 team 5-1 at Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium Sunday, playing their second of UEFA’s Under-21 Championship tournament in front of fewer than 6,000 fans, a poor attendance at a venue able to seat 32,000 people.

The Oranje all but guaranteed first place of their group, while shattering the Russians’ hopes of advancing to the semi-finals.

Georginio Wijnaldum scored Holland’s first goal in the 39th minute, after a fast-paced first half. Fifteen minutes into the second half, the Dutch doubled their lead when Luuk de Jong found the net.

Russia got on the scoreboard less than than five minutes later, when Denis Cheryshev scored his country’s only goal of the match. Four minutes after that, Holland once again cushioned its lead with a goal by Ola John.

In the 83rd minute, Danny Hoesen gave the sign for Holland’s fans to start celebrating when he put his team up 4-1. The final nail was hammered into Russia’s coffin two minutes into stoppage time, when Leroy Fer nailed a shot and determined the final score.

The night’s second game, Spain vs. Germany, was being played later, in Netanya.