Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey justified the decision to bring him into the starting line-up with two poacher's goals in a 5-1 World Cup stroll over Sweden on Saturday.
Cody Gakpo also netted a double in Houston to boost the three-times runners-up, with Anthony Elanga's goal for 4-1 of little use to the Scandinavians. Substitute Crysencio Summerville made it five in style late on, but was then injured.
Sweden crushed Tunisia 5-1 in their opener but Group F will now go to the wire, although the Dutch will feel confident of going through on their current four points given the eight best third-placed sides progress to the last 32.
They will still want to hammer Tunisia on Thursday and top the group.
The Dutch looked slightly toothless in the box in the opening 2-2 draw with Japan, but it was still a surprise to see coach Ronald Koeman drop Sunday's goalscorer Summerville for the burly Brobbey.
However, the Sunderland man showed it was a touch of genius by giving the Dutch a real number nine and a big presence up front.
Early on he superbly held up a long ball from the goalkeeper and then charged into the box to finish off Gakpo's cross.
"That first goal had everything you could want. It was a brilliant start to the match. That gives you confidence," Koeman told NOS after his side were watched in Texas by the Dutch king and queen.
It was 2-0 on 17 minutes when Brobbey latched on to a Denzel Dumfries ball after the full back had been given too much room on the right.
He had trebled his Dutch goal tally in a flurry and his second was the 100th men's World Cup goal for the Oranje. They are the eighth side to pass the milestone but the only one yet to lift the trophy.
Ayari miss the turning point
The first hydration break in the roofed Houston stadium was booed by orange and yellow fans. Momentum again shifted as Sweden came out of it with a new vigour.
Yasin Ayari spurned a golden opportunity after a whipped cross by Viktor Gyökeres, while Gustaf Lagerbielke was just offside when he headed in a free-kick.
Summerville was introduced at the break but it was Dumfries again causing havoc and Gakpo tapped in his cross at the back post on 47.
Liverpool forward Gakpo fired into the near corner on 54 - the 100th goal of this tournament - and Elanga's strong finish on the hour after Alexander Isak's neat pass gave Sweden some late hope.
Graham Potter's team pushed to further cut the deficit but will have to do the job against Japan on Thursday instead in the group finale.
"Obviously really disappointed," the Englishman said. "It was a tricky one to analyse, we did lots of good things. We attacked, had good opportunities but you can't concede that many and hope to win."
Summerville completed the Dutch rout on 89 but was later caught on the head by a wayward knee and required lengthy treatment.
The last time Sweden conceded five in a men's World Cup match was the 1958 final against Brazil when they lost 5-2. They are also the first team to win by four and lose by four in successive World Cup games.
Tunisia face Japan later on Saturday in Monterrey, Mexico.
