Soccer - Portugal suffer first-half collapse in 3-0 loss to Dutch

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Portugal's Gelson Martins in action with Netherlands' Davy Propper REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

GENEVA (Reuters) - European champions Portugal suffered a first-half collapse and had Joao Cancelo sent off just past the hour in an embarrassing 3-0 World Cup warm-up defeat by the Netherlands on Monday.

Memphis Depay, Ryan Babel and Virgil van Dijk all scored by taking advantage of uncharacteristically slack defending by Portugal as the Dutch, who failed to qualify for this year's World Cup, secured a first win for new coach Ronald Koeman.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo began the match a hat-trick away from matching Hungarian Ferenc Puskas's record of 84 goals as Europe's all-time leading international marksmen but never looked like scoring one, let alone three.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo walks off after being substituted as Portugal coach Fernando Santos looks on REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who made nine changes from the team which beat Egypt 2-1 in a friendly on Friday and handed a debut to Napoli fullback Mario Rui, took the blame.

"It could have gone better but the responsibility for the defeat is mine. I was the one who picked the team, watched our opponents and put together our strategy," he said.

He added that Portugal suffered a home defeat to Bulgaria in a friendly before going on to win Euro 2016.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Netherlands' Nathan Ake in action with Portugal's Luis Neto REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

“We don’t like to draw matches, let alone lose them. I will draw my conclusions. We need to find something positive in this defeat,” said Santos.

Portugal, who face Spain, Iran and Morocco in their World Cup group, dominated possession for the opening few minutes but the Dutch struck first when Depay beat defender Jose Fonte to a loose ball and fired into the net after 12 minutes.

Babel was left unmarked to head in from Matthijs De Ligt's cross at the far post in the 32nd and it needed a superb save by Anthony Lopes to keep out a Depay header shortly afterwards.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Portugal's Goncalo Guedes reacts REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

There was no let-off on the stroke of halftime, however, when a Depay free kick was teed up by De Ligt for the unmarked Van Dijk to fire home the third.

Portugal tightened up in defence after halftime and escaped further embarrassment but they suffered more misery when Cancelo was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge.

The Netherlands, who lost 1-0 at home to England on Friday, brought on Justin Kluivert, the 18-year-old son of their former forward Patrick, for his international debut in the 78th minute.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Netherlands' Justin Kluivert and Memphis Depay after the match REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

(Reporting by Brian Homewood in Bern; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Netherlands fans REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Portugal's Andre Silva in action REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Portugal's Manuel Fernandes in action with Netherlands' Memphis Depay REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Portugal coach Fernando Santos REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Portugal's Joao Cancelo is sent off as Netherlands' Tonny Vilhena lies injured REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Portugal's Joao Cancelo is sent off as Cristiano Ronaldo looks on REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Portugal's Joao Cancelo with Cristiano Ronaldo after being sent off REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Netherlands' Ryan Babel in action REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Netherlands' Jasper Cillessen REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Soccer Football - International Friendly - Portugal vs Netherlands - Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland - March 26, 2018 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo in action with Netherlands' Nathan Ake REUTERS/Denis Balibouse