Netherlands rout Japan 3-0 in friendly

Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored second-half goals to hand the Netherlands a 3-0 home win over Japan in a low-key international friendly match on Saturday.

The Dutch, who like Japan have already sealed qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, displayed little invention and created their first real danger just before the interval when Gregory van der Wiel missed with a long drive.

Van Persie broke the deadlock with just over 20 minutes to go when he controlled a pass from Eljero Elia on his chest before finishing at the near post.

Sneijder doubled the lead with a curling drive and three minutes before time Huntelaar hit the third, following another assist from Elia.

The Dutch, already assured of first place in Group Nine, have one more qualifier to come against Scotland on Wednesday.