Sensational Turkey leave Netherlands reeling

• Turkey defeat Netherlands for first time since 1997 to move third in Group A
• Oğuzhan Özyakup lights way with early opener, his first national team goal
• Arda Turan and Burak Yılmaz also score as Turkey post third win in four qualifiers
• Netherlands slip to fourth with two games remaining
• Next games: Czech Republic v Turkey, Kazakhstan v Netherlands (10 October)

Turkey have forced their way back into the UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying picture courtesy of a superb 3-0 success against the Netherlands, lifting themselves up to third in Group A to leave their visitors in danger of missing out.

The Oranje had not lost to Turkey since 1997 and required just a point to keep themselves ahead of their rivals heading into next month's qualifying climax. Danny Blind's side were made to suffer after only eight minutes, however, with Oğuzhan Özyakup beginning the punishment ahead of Arda Turan's first-half effort and a late third from Burak Yılmaz.

Undone at home by Iceland on Thursday, the Netherlands could ill afford another setback in their stop-start campaign. Any hopes of a defiant response were quickly undermined, though, with Oğuzhan opening his international account with a well-placed lob over Jasper Cillessen following a quick counterattack with Arda.

His captain then doubled the lead after 26 minutes, the Barcelona midfielder dispossessing Daley Blind and cutting in from the left to beat Cillessen, whose touch was not enough to stop the ball going in. Stunned, the Netherlands looked to mount a recovery, only for their energetic hosts to provide stiff resistance at the back.

Turkey celebrate a win that lifted them up to third©AFP/Getty Images

Wesley Sneijder took matters into his own hands with an attempt from distance, yet he was unable to add to his goal in the 1-1 draw between these teams in March as Volkan Babacan parried his shot. Robin van Persie fared no better after being set up by Sneijder, the Fenerbahçe forward having his effort blocked by Hakan Balta.

Turkey focused on taking the intensity out of the game and continued to threaten on the counter, with that approach yielding another breakthrough close to full time as Burak notched his 19th international goal. Teed up by Caner Erkin, the Galatasaray striker ensured Turkey now control their own destiny – and that the Dutch face the real prospect of missing out on France 2016.