Netherlands in charge after Andorra success

The Netherlands continue to keep pace with Romania at the head of Group D after Louis van Gaal's side made it a third consecutive qualifying win by seeing off Andorra in Rotterdam.

The coach gave an Oranje debut to 30-year-old forward Ruben Schaken, but the Feyenoord man was overshadowed before the break as Rafael van der Vaart and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar put the hosts ahead. However, Schaken got himself a first international goal after the interval to complete the scoring and put the Netherlands top of the section on goal difference.

In a match that the hosts were expected to dictate, things went to plan early on as Huntelaar played in Van der Vaart to claim his 20th international goal on his 101st appearance. FC Schalke 04 forward Huntelaar was rewarded for providing the first, getting his head to Jeremain Lens' left-wing cross to double the advantage eight minutes later.

The Netherlands threatened to run away with the game, controlling possession, but a dogged performance from the visitors prevented the home side from stretching the advantage before the break.

There was nothing Andorra could do on 50 minutes, however, as Lens again provided the ammunition and this time it was Schaken who provided the finishing touch from close range. The result sets up Tuesday's trip to Romania perfectly, with both sides having taken maximum points from their three outings, while Andorra will hope to get their first points of the campaign when they host Estonia.