Memphis Depay scored twice in the Netherlands’ 8-0 win against Malta on Tuesday to become the country’s joint top goalscorer, alongside Robin van Persie.

Depay scored a penalty in the eight minute and then smashed Denzel Dumfries’ pull-back high into the top corner seven minutes later to take his international tally to 50 goals.

The 31-year-old also set up the fourth goal with an incisive pass that Xavi Simons converted with the outside of his boot in the 61st minute. Shortly afterwards Depay was replaced by Donyell Malen, who went on to score twice and set up another by Noa Lang.

Virgil van Dijk and Micky van de Ven were also on the scoresheet in Groningen as Oranje inflicted Malta’s heaviest defeat since 1990, when Marco van Basten scored five times in another 8-0 win. It was the first time since 1981 that the northern city has hosted a men’s international match.

“I’m happy that I equalled Van Persie today, but it’s only temporary,” the forward, who plays his club football for Corinthians in Brazil, said afterwards. “If I’d played longer today I might have scored one more this evening.”

The result means the Dutch have won their opening two matches in their World Cup qualifying group, following their 2-0 win against Finland in Helsinki on Saturday, when Depay scored the opening goal.

Finland upset the odds to beat Poland 2-1 in the other Group G game on Tuesday. The Finns top the group with seven points, one more than Oranje, having played two games more.

The next World Cup qualifying match for the Dutch is at home to Poland on September 4, followed by a trip to Lithuania on September 7.