National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Guus Harmsen made the kick off and thus started the match. In the 3rd minute Johnny Van Hoeyvelt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tadej Pogačar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 10th minute, Johnny Van Hoeyvelt managed to get in a good position for a shot. Belgium's supporters rose to their feet, but Johnny Van Hoeyvelt was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tadej Pogačar breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 11th match minute, Netherlands was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Corné van Basten to maneuver through the defense. A.J. Idachaba showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Frenkie de Jong in the 14th minute of the match. Tadej Pogačar made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Johnny Van Hoeyvelt in the 18th minute of play. In the 20th match minute, Belgium was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gilian Goos to maneuver through the defense. After some careless play in the Belgium defense, Frenkie de Jong kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of A.J. Idachaba. The Belgium fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that A.J. Idachaba should have stopped the shot. A collision led to Belgium getting a freekick after 29 minutes play. Dirk Vanden Driessche hit a great ball. 30 minutes into the game, Frenkie de Jong cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. A.J. Idachaba was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. A collision led to Netherlands getting a freekick after 37 minutes play. Corné van Basten hit a great ball. In the 39th minute Johnny Van Hoeyvelt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tadej Pogačar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A.J. Idachaba showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Frenkie de Jong in the 40th minute of the match. The supporters of Belgium booed when Netherlands was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 44 match minutes in a wonderful position. Corné van Basten didn't get a good kick on the ball. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-2 lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Johnny Van Hoeyvelt stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Belgium's A.J. Idachaba proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 51st minute of the match, managed to save Belgium from getting a goal against them. Vic Poels charged in rather forcefully in the 51st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Vic Poels the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Vic Poels hit a great freekick 52 minutes into the match. Belgium's attentive Gilian Goos managed to snatch the ball when Corné van Basten made a throw-in in the 54th minute of the game. After 60 played minutes Frenkie de Jong rounded Belgium's defense and shot a beautiful shot into goal via left pole - 1-3. In the 65th minute, Guus Harmsen left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Netherlands fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-4. A collision led to Belgium getting a freekick after 68 minutes play. Gilian Goos hit a great ball. Frenkie de Jong blasted a shot towards the goal in the 69th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without A.J. Idachaba having to make a save. With a little luck, Belgium's A.J. Idachaba got control of the ball when Frenkie de Jong tried to sneak it across the goal line. Netherlands's Tadej Pogačar played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Johnny Van Hoeyvelt in the 72nd minute of play. In the 72ndth minute of the game Johnny Van Hoeyvelt who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Netherlands's Tadej Pogačar was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. When the match clock showed 72 minutes, the score became 2-4 when Johnny Van Hoeyvelt sped through Netherlands's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Tadej Pogačar. 75 minutes into the match, Belgium's goal looked a bit too open when Guus Harmsen came free, but A.J. Idachaba reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Frenkie de Jong had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Netherlands's Marco Hegeman was substituted for Robin Boelens. With his leg A.J. Idachaba managed to avoid a goal in the 83rdth minute, when Netherlands's Frenkie de Jong fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Netherlands's Joop Bakker was substituted for Marinus Doren. After a rather tough play, Netherlands's Corné van Basten got a free kick in the 88th minute. 92 minutes into the game, Frenkie de Jong recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of A.J. Idachaba. Frenkie de Jong showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-5. When the match was over Netherlands could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Belgium throughout the match.