Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo scored his third goal of the European Championship and Donyell Malen added two more late on as the Dutch burst back into form to defeat Romania 3-0 in their last-16 fixture on Tuesday.

Lambasted by their media and fans for a poor defensive display in their final group game — a 3-2 loss to Austria — the Netherlands were more composed and in control here, as they entered the Euro quarter finals for the first time since 2008.

Romania controlled the ball for the first quarter of an hour before the Dutch slowly started to get a grip on the match.

They led after 20 minutes when player of the match Gakpo drilled a low shot home at keeper Florin Nita’s near post before Malen’s late double in a span of 10 minutes sealed a quarter-final berth. They will play in Berlin on Saturday.

In control

Gakpo was a menace all night and turned provider for Malen’s first goal in the 83rd minute when he kept the ball in play on the touchline and knocked it across the box for an easy tap in.

Malen completed his brace in the third minute of added time when he collected the ball in midfield, dribbled into the penalty area and fired past Nita as the seventh-ranked Dutch served notice that they have started to click at the tournament.

Romania, ranked 47th, created just a few chances and never looked a serious threat. The Dutch had two-thirds of possession and almost five times more chances with 24 attempts in the game to underline their superiority as captain Virgil van Dijk struck the post with a header and Gakpo had a second effort ruled out for offside.

“This was the answer we had to our last performance — good game, good goals, we played good football,” Gakpo said. “Of course we could do better, but a good step in that next direction.”

“Great to break the tension like that,” he added of his goal. “We never had the feeling that we would lose control of the game.”

Romanian legend Gheorghe Hagi, the father of Romania’s attacking midfielder Ianis Hagi, agreed with the Dutch’s grip on the game.

“The Netherlands were a very good team both individually and collectively, very well prepared. They controlled... the match. We have done what we could but it is a process. From here a growth process must start.”