Euro 2016

[monks data]

European Championship | Qualifiers

Oct 13, 2014 at 7.45pm UK

Iceland Iceland
2-0
Netherlands

Sigurdsson (10' pen., 42')

FT(HT: 2-0)

Gylfi Sigurdsson brace gives Iceland victory over Netherlands

By Sian Cowper, Reporter | 13 October 2014

Gylfi Sigurdsson scores twice in the first half to give Iceland a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in their Group A Euro 2016 qualifier.

Two first-half goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson have given Iceland a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in their Group A Euro 2016 qualifier this evening.

Iceland's midfielder Gylfi Thor Sigurdsson (down) scores duirng the Euro 2016 Group A qualifying football match Iceland vs the Netherlands in Reykjavik, Iceland on October 13, 2014 © Getty Images

The home side were awarded a penalty inside the opening 10 minutes when Stefan de Vrij brought down Birkir Bjarnason in the box, allowing Sigurdsson to fire the ball in from the spot.

Gregory van der Wiel had a cross blocked as the Netherlands pressed for a quick equaliser, while Robin van Persie saw his powerful shot stopped on the line by Hannes Halldorsson.

The Dutch side continued to push, and had another good chance to get back on level terms when a Daley Blind cross fell for Arjen Robben, but the Bayern Munich midfielder could only head over.

Despite the Netherlands' dominating for much of the first half, Iceland managed to double their lead before half time when Kolbeinn Sigthorsson had a shot blocked, setting up Sigurdsson for a volley on the rebound.

Bruno Martins Indi and Robben both tried to get the visitors into a goal-scoring position early in the second half, but they were unable to find their teammates ahead of them.

Quincy Promes came off the bench, and almost set up Van Persie to get a goal back, but the Manchester United striker headed wide.

Iceland almost added a third late on when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson played his way into the box before blasting the ball towards the Dutch goal, only to watch his effort go wide.

The result leaves Iceland with maximum points from their first three qualifiers at the top of Group A, while the Netherlands sit third.