Challenge

STADIO DELLA ROMA
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Gijsbert ter Kruimer made the kick off which started today's match. Biagio Scoca fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 7th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Arnout Reekers having to interfere. 9 minutes into the game, Netherlands's Wim Wilmes nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Alvaro Pardini made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Arnout Reekers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Niccolo Zaniolo, who was totally free with the ball in the 12th minute. Alvaro Pardini made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Wim Wilmes in the 14th minute of play. In the 19th minute Niccolo Zaniolo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Arnout Reekers saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 22nd minute, Gijsbert ter Kruimer 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: 1-2. Alvaro Pardini showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lars Meesters in the 27th minute of the match. When Lars Meesters came up free with the goalie in the 29th minute, the Netherlands fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Lars Meesters couldn't finish the play. Alvaro Pardini showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lars Meesters, who was totally free with the ball in the 33rd minute. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Niccolo Zaniolo in the 35th minute of the match. Biagio Di Marco'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. Biagio Di Marco helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Netherlands booed when Foot Ball Club di Roma was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Biagio Di Marco didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 40th minute, Foot Ball Club di Roma's Armando Ceresoli dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-2. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 47th minute of play forced Foot Ball Club di Roma's goalkeeper Alvaro Pardini to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The first half was very even, with the score at 2-2 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Niccolo Zaniolo to make the kick off. 53 minutes into the match, Wim Wilmes had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Alvaro Pardini. Foot Ball Club di Roma's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Wim Wilmes was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-3. Alvaro Flamini took the ball and in the 59 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Arnout Reekers. Arnout Reekers dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-3. A collision led to Foot Ball Club di Roma getting a freekick after 62 minutes play. Leandro Greco hit a great ball. Foot Ball Club di Roma's defense didn't have a chance, in the 64th minute, when Gustaaf Groeneveldt scored to the left of an out of position Alvaro Pardini, making the score, 3-4. 66 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Biagio Scoca came free, but Arnout Reekers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Alvaro Pardini showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 70th minute of the match. If Gustaaf Groeneveldt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 74 minutes into the match, Foot Ball Club di Roma's goal looked a bit too open when Wim Wilmes came free, but Alvaro Pardini reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Alvaro Pardini made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lars Meesters in the 77th minute of play. In the 86th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alvaro Pardini saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 87th minute Netherlands were awarded a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner ended in Lars Meesters almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Foot Ball Club di Roma's Alvaro Pardini did a great save. In the 90th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alvaro Pardini saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 91st minute, Niccolo Zaniolo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Gustaaf Groeneveldt could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 92nd minute of the match, but Alvaro Pardini made a huge save. Wim Wilmes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alvaro Pardini having to interfere. 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.