Following his side's 4-0 win over Malta, Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman made three changes to the Dutch team. Premier League stars Justin Kluivert and Donyell Malen were introduced to the starting lineup, replacing Tijjani Reijnders and Jeremie Frimpong. The Netherlands' all-time top scorer, Memphis Depay, also started, replacing Wout Weghorst.
Finland began the FIFA World Cup qualifier with the same system used in Thursday's 2-1 win over Lithuania. Jacob Friis fielded five defenders and two forwards, but without Venezia striker Joel Pohjanpalo, who was placed on the bench. Oliver Antman and Topi Keskinen formed the forward duo, with Leo Walta closely in behind.
After Denzel Dumfries created the first bit of danger for the Dutch, Aston Villa's Donyell Malen opened the scoring inside the first ten minutes. A fluid team move involving Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay, and Donyell Malen got the latter the chance to fire at Jesse Joronen, who was beaten despite getting a hand on Malen's powerful effort.
Memphis Depay, who became the country's all-time leader in assists by assisting Malen's goal, upped his tally to 35 with an inswinging free kick to Virgil van Dijk, who headed in the 2-0 in the 17th minute during the week in which he celebrated a 10-milestone for the Netherlands.
Donyell Malen remained a big threat in front of Finland's goal in the first half, forcing a save out of Joronen before heading the ball just wide. The biggest chance at scoring the 3-0 came from Jurrien Timber's head, however, as the Arsenal man hit the crossbar in the 36th minute.
Instead, it was Memphis Depay who scored his 54th Oranje goal from 12 yards, slotting the ball home after Justin Kluivert had his shot blocked by a Finnish hand.
It took Finland 34 minutes to show some threat on the Dutch half when Keskinen fired a shot in Bart Verbruggen's direction, but his effort was blocked a minute before his side left the pitch with a 3-0 deficit.
Quiet second half
Koeman brought on Tijjani Reijnders during half-time, replacing Ryan Gravenberch, and the Manchester City midfielder got his name called early on with a rocket from distance, which Joronen kept out of the left-hand corner.
The talented Sirius midfielder Walta finally showed himself after 55 minutes with a shot from distance, which never troubled Verbruggen.
Substitute Wout Weghorst thought he'd put Oranje up 4-0 with his first international goal in over a year, but the Ajax striker had his goal ruled out for offside in the build-up.
The Netherlands clearly lowered their tempo in the second half, with Reijnders' early effort being their only shot on target in the first 38 minutes after the break and until Cody Gakpo fired in the Netherlands' fourth goal with a blazing shot from outside the box.
The Netherlands took the week to improve their goal difference in a tight Group G, increasing it to +19 and putting it out of reach for chasers Poland, who are on +4 with a game in hand. Oranje improved to 16 points and lead Poland (5 games) and Finland (7 games) by six points.
The Dutch have an away game in Poland ahead of them in November, followed by a home game against Lithuania, which will be their final FIFA World Cup qualifier.
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