Swansea midfielder on form as Iceland storm to the top of their group ahead of the sorry Dutch.
Iceland are now in pole position for qualification from their Euro 2016 qualification group, along with the Czech Republic, as both sides moved on to nine points out of nine thanks to wins over The Netherlands and Kazakhstan respectively, leaving Guus Hiddink’s side facing a real battle to avoid a play-off for finishing in third place after losing in both Prague and Reykjavik.
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The Icelanders have developed a reputation for being one of the most young, dynamic national sides in Europe and were well worth their victory over sorry Holland, with the movement of Sigurdsson, winger Emil Hallfredsson of Hellas Verone and Ajax striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson causing real trouble for the Dutch defence.
It seemed as though the opening goal was only a matter of time and so it prove, Iceland taking the lead inside ten minutes when Lazio centre back Stefan de Vrij brought down Birkir Bjarnason in the box, giving Sigurdsson the opportunity to step up and smash home from the spot.
By the time the half-time whistle had sounded it was two, Sigurdsson again the scoresheet when a loose ball sat up brilliantly for the Swansea playmaker to rifle into the roof of the net before embracing captain and Cardiff City midfielder Aron Gunnarsson:
Dutch disaster! Swansea City star Gylfi Sigurdsson scores his and Iceland’s second against Holland https://t.co/mi8dduJtFf
— GoalClips (@GoalClips) October 13, 2014
The second half was largely a case of the Dutch dominating the ball but offering little more than crosses into the box, with Arjen Robben wasteful and their strike ineffectual, whilst the much more enterprising Iceland offered real problems for the Dutch defence with their pace and movement in attack.
In the end, they didn’t need a third goal to make it a comfortable evening, with Iceland never in danger of not winning a game that gives them a real chance of qualification for the first ever time.