Turkey beat the Netherlands 3-0 at the Konya Torku Arena to inflict the Dutch sides biggest defeat in a competitive match since Euro 96 to keep their hopes of booking a place in Euro 2016 alive.
Fatih Terim made a number of changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Latvia last Thursday. The Turkish national team boss switched to a 4-3-3 moving Ozan Tufan from a right-back position to a central midfielder and Şener Özbayraklı replaced him at full-back.
Oğuzhan Özyakup started in midfielder alongside Selçuk İnan Tufan while Hakan Çalhanoğlu was moved to the left-flank with Arda Turan starring on the right. Galatasaray striker Burak Yılmaz started upfront and Başakşehir keeper Volkan Babacan kept his place in goal.
Turkey got off to a brilliant start with Beşiktaş star Özyakup making the most of a defence-splitting pass from Turan and chipping the ball over the keeper to score his first goal for the national team – ironically against his country of birth and the team he captained at U21 level.
Turan caused the Netherlands defence problems with his continuos harassment and was rewarded for his handwork when he won the ball back just outside the Dutch sides penalty area before driving into the box and giving the Crescent-Stars a two goal lead going into the half-time break.
Caner Erkin setup Burak Yılmaz in the second half for the home sides third and final goal. The prolific striker is now the fourth highest scorer in Turkish footballing history with four goals.
The win took Turkey above the Netherlands in Group A into third place with two games remaining in the group stages.
Turkey 3-0 Netherlands