Cody Gakpo sealed a dominant victory for the Netherlands against Finland in their recent World Cup qualifier with a stunning late goal. The Liverpool forward's strike was the final flourish in a 4-0 win that propelled the Netherlands closer to securing their place in the upcoming World Cup.

The match, held on October 12, 2025, at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, saw the Netherlands assert their dominance from the outset. Donyell Malen opened the scoring in the 8th minute, capitalizing on a well-executed play with Memphis Depay. Just nine minutes later, Virgil van Dijk doubled the lead with a powerful header from a Depay free-kick. Depay himself added a third before halftime, converting a penalty after a Finnish handball in the box.

While the second half saw the Netherlands control possession, a fourth goal seemed elusive until the 84th minute. That was when Cody Gakpo stepped up to deliver a moment of brilliance. After receiving a pass from Xavi Simons, Gakpo positioned himself perfectly just outside the box and unleashed a right-footed shot that found the back of the net. The goal sparked excitement on social media, with fans lauding it as a "goal poacher's finish" and praising Gakpo's instinctive movement.

The victory puts the Netherlands in a strong position in their World Cup qualifying group, sitting six points clear of Poland. With upcoming matches against Poland and Lithuania next month, the Dutch are well on their way to securing their spot in the tournament.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting their attacking prowess and ability to create dangerous opportunities. He did note the need to maintain a high tempo throughout matches, especially against strong opponents.

Gakpo's goal was his second in two games, having also scored twice in the previous match against Malta. His impressive form has been a major boost for both the national team and Liverpool. Alongside Gakpo, fellow Liverpool player Virgil van Dijk also contributed with a goal, further solidifying a successful international break for the Anfield club's Dutch contingent.

The match also saw contributions from other players, with Donyell Malen, Justin Kluivert, and Tijjani Reijnders playing key roles. While Ryan Gravenberch was substituted at halftime, the team maintained its momentum and secured a comfortable win. Finland struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the game, with their first shot on target coming in the 45th minute.

With this convincing win over Finland, the Netherlands have demonstrated their quality and determination to compete on the world stage. Cody Gakpo's stunning goal serves as a testament to their attacking talent and provides a glimpse of what they are capable of achieving in the future.