JERUSALEM:  Holland closed in on a place in the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship after thrashing  Russia 5-1.

Georginio Wijnaldum’s first-half strike sent  Holland on their way and Luuk de Jong added a second after Nikita Chicherin was sent off early in the second half.

Highly-rated Denis Cheryshev pulled back a goal shortly afterwards but Ola John ended any hope of a comeback midway through the second half before Danny Hoesen and Leroy Fer added gloss to the scoreline.

The Dutch have taken six points from their first two Group B games but  Russia risk elimination after two defeats with one match left to play.

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