National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725,
Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Mattias Theijs started the match with the kick off. 5 minutes into the game, Matt Melkval was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Belgium's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Netherlands the free kick. Dolf Rouckeloos made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Frenkie de Jong in the 6th minute of play. Belgium's Dolf Rouckeloos played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Frenkie de Jong in the 8th minute of play. Dolf Rouckeloos took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Frenkie de Jong, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Dolf Rouckeloos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Guus Harmsen in the 15th minute of the match. Natan Huyberechts hit a great freekick 15 minutes into the match. Dolf Rouckeloos showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Guus Harmsen, who was totally free with the ball in the 17th minute. Arne Roekeloos's late challenge caught a Netherlands's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Arne Roekeloos helped the player get up and apologised. Arne Roekeloos kicked well hit freekick during the 22nd minute of the match. 0-1 became the score in the 23rd minute when Frenkie de Jong elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. After 31 minutes, Jeff Koninkx mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Belgium and the Netherlands players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 31st match minute, Belgium was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jeff Koninkx to maneuver through the defense. Netherlands's attentive Corné van Basten managed to snatch the ball when Arne Roekeloos made a throw-in in the 34th minute of the game. 37 minutes into the match, Belgium's goal looked a bit too open when Frenkie de Jong came free, but Dolf Rouckeloos reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. During the 38th minute of the match Matt Melkval completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Matt Melkval a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. After 38 played minutes Belgium got a freekick which was hit by Matt Melkval. Dolf Rouckeloos showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Guus Harmsen, who was totally free with the ball in the 40th minute. Dolf Rouckeloos showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Guus Harmsen, who was totally free with the ball in the 42nd minute. Marinus Doren fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 43rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dolf Rouckeloos having to interfere. In the 44th minute, Corné van Basten hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Mattias Theijs had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Belgium players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Netherlands were winning 0-1.
Belgium's Dolf Rouckeloos 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. Dolf Rouckeloos made an important save on a dangerous shot by Frenkie de Jong in the 52nd minute. After 61 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Belgium! When the match had been going on for 63 minutes, Netherlands's Frenkie de Jong got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Dolf Rouckeloos. 72 minutes into the match, Belgium's goal looked a bit too open when Guus Harmsen came free, but Dolf Rouckeloos reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Netherlands's Nick Heesen was substituted for Guus Harmsen. In the 76th minute, Refael Vercasteren hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 78 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Frenkie de Jong sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Dolf Rouckeloos narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Frenkie de Jong sent away a hard shot on goal in the 84th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 84th minute Frenkie de Jong shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dolf Rouckeloos saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Dolf Rouckeloos showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marinus Doren, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. Frenkie de Jong received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 87th minute. Dolf Rouckeloos tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Netherlands made a substitution. Joop Bakker replaced Marinus Doren. 90 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Frenkie de Jong sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Dolf Rouckeloos narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After 92 minutes, Frenkie de Jong made it 0-3 with a short kick to the right side. Belgium's Dolf Rouckeloos tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 94th minute, Natan Huyberechts hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 97 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Frenkie de Jong sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Dolf Rouckeloos narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Netherlands's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.
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