Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey and Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo scored two goals apiece for Ronald Koeman’s side, with relegated West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville adding a fifth for the Dutch.
Sunderland striker Brobbey got his first start of the tournament and repaid Koeman with predatory goals after five and 17 minutes. Before that, the 24-year-old had scored only once for his country since making his debut three years ago. Brobbey netted his second 12 minutes later when he stabbed home from Denzel Dumfries’ low cross after getting goalside of Sweden defender Isak Hien.
Sweden put one in the back of the net in first-half stoppage time when Gustaf Lagerbielke nodded into an empty net after beating Verbruggen to a free-kick, but the offside flag went up almost immediately.
Koeman sent on Summerville for Malen at the break and two minutes later it was mission impossible for Sweden, Gakpo prodding in from close range after yet another dangerous low cross from Dumfries before scoring his second in the 54th minute.
That strike took the goals scored at this World Cup to 100 in 33 games, the fastest a century has been reached since the 1958 edition (32 or 33 games as both were played simultaneously).
Elanga pulled one back five minutes later when he raced clear of the Dutch defence and rattled the ball past Verbruggen from Isak’s assist to give Sweden a consolation goal.
The big win on Saturday in front of nearly 69,000 at Houston Stadium put the delighted Dutch on the cusp of the knockout rounds and gave them lift-off after being held by Japan.
