Euro 2016 qualifiers: Dutch on brink of elimination

Wesley Sneijder of the Netherlands reacts as Turkey scored the third goal during their Euro 2016 Group A qualifying soccer match in Konya, Turkey, September 6, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

ANKARA - Turkey dealt a hammer blow to already faint Dutch chances of qualifying for Euro 2016 with a 3-0 home victory on Sunday which left the Netherlands in fourth place in Group A.

First-half goals by Oguzhan Ozyakup and Arda Turan put the hosts in charge and an 85th minute effort by Burak Yilmaz sealed the points for Turkey who boosted their own hopes by moving two points above the Dutch into third spot.

Last week's shock loss at home to Iceland had already left the Netherlands in real danger of missing their first European Championship for three decades, but if manager Danny Blind was hoping for an immediate response from his players he would have been disappointed.

It was another desperately laboured performance and they rarely looked like dragging themselves themselves back into the game after falling behind.

With the Czech Republic winning to move ahead of Iceland, who play Kazakhstan later, the Netherlands can no longer finish in the top two and will have to win both of their last two games to have any chance of a playoff spot.

Turkey were quickly into their stride in the central Anatolian city of Konya and were ahead after eight minutes when Ozyakup latched on to a through ball from Turan and neatly lifted it over Jasper Cillessen.

Things went from bad to worse for the Dutch, playing all in white, when sluggish defending allowed Turan in to sweep home a shot Cillessen should have stopped to send the crowd, including Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, into raptures.

Only the lively Memphis Depay looked threatening for a pedestrian Dutch side and Turkey, content to spend most of the second half sitting back, continued to pose a danger on the break.