Scoring barrage puts bite in Euro World Cup qualifiers

Gibraltar's James Bosio (C) and Joseph Chipolina in action against Belgium's Toby Alderweireld during a World Cup 2018 Qualifier in Faro, Portugal on Oct 10, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

The fastest goal in World Cup history capped a night of 6-0 routs while the Netherlands continued to fall in Monday's European qualifying.

Just seven seconds had ticked off the clock when Belgium forward Christian Benteke capped his surging run through the Gibraltar defense with a stunning strike, setting the tone for a 6-0 rout.

Benteke beat the 8.3 seconds that Davide Gaultieri took to score for San Marino against England in 1993.

Portugal also won 6-0, but needed only a single goal from Cristiano Ronaldo to dominate the Faeroe Islands.

Instead, 20-year-old Andre Silva stepped up with a first-half hat-trick in just his fourth international match - perhaps finally pairing Ronaldo with a true penalty-area predator for the freshly crowned European champion.

Dutch decline has been steep since the Netherlands followed runner-up and third-place finishes at the last two World Cups with failure to qualify for an expanded Euro 2016.

A 1-0 loss at home to France was the latest setback, sealed by Paul Pogba's powerful shot from 40 yards in the first half.

Belgium and France top their groups, though Portugal trails Switzerland, which won its third straight qualifier, 2-1 at lowly Andorra.

Only the nine European group winners advance directly to play in Russia and four runners-up will qualify through a playoff round.