World Cup

[monks data]

World Cup | Qualifiers

Oct 11, 2013 at 7.30pm UK

Netherlands
8-1
Hungary

van Persie (16', 44', 53'), Strootman (25'), Lens (38'), Devecseri (65' og.), van der Vaart (86'), Robben (90')

FT(HT: 4-0)

Dzsudzsak (48')

Robin van Persie surprised by Netherlands record

By Subhankar Mondal, Reporter | 12 October 2013

Robin van Persie is pleased at breaking Patrick Kluivert's scoring record for the Netherlands with a hat-trick against Hungary on Friday.

Netherlands striker Robin van Persie has admitted his surprise at breaking Patrick Kluivert's goalscoring record for the national side on Friday.

The Manchester United forward overcame an injury to start his side's World Cup qualifier against Hungary and scored a hat-trick in an 8-1 home win.

The 30-year-old's goals saw him overtake Kluivert as the Oranje's all-time top scorer with 41 strikes in 80 matches.

"I didn't expect to play actually," he told SBS6. "We took a small gamble. It went better the last days with my toe. This morning we decided that I would play an hour. I didn't expect that it would go like this.

"In the first five minutes I lost two balls. I was not happy with that. But the team reacted well and we didn't concede goals from it. After the first 10 minutes we showed really good football.

"The greatest moment of the night was my second goal. The pass from Arjen [Robben] was brilliant. It was a floater. I only had to give the last touch with my head. The first one was a bit with my shoulder."

The Netherlands, who have already qualified for the World Cup finals in Brazil next year, are currently at the top of Group D with 25 points from nine matches.