Challenge

Dionisio Fernanco
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the kick off in the first half of the match. After 4 played minutes Sportivo Ben Hur got a freekick which was hit by Witalis Maruda. In the 6th minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt 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: 0-1. Teobald Korytkowski fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Arnout Reekers having to interfere. After 16 played minutes Sportivo Ben Hur got a freekick which was hit by Jorge Hagi. Montrell Harrell took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Montrell Harrell made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 29th minute of play. After 30 minutes Sportivo Ben Hur's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Gijsbert ter Kruimer who took care of the corner kick. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Anselmo Lluis in the 32nd minute of the match. Arnout Reekers stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Anselmo Lluis's shot from short distance in the 33rd minute. If Lars Meesters had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 42 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Jorge Hagi. In the 43rd minute Anselmo Lluis 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. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Jorge Hagi in the 46th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Arnout Reekers saved Netherlands from getting behind. 47 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Montrell Harrell narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Sportivo Ben Hur's Daniel Constancio was substituted for Teobald Korytkowski. The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Jorge Hagi was the one to do the kick off. If Gustaaf Groeneveldt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sportivo Ben Hur's Montrell Harrell played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Wim Wilmes in the 56th minute of play. With a little luck, Sportivo Ben Hur's Montrell Harrell got control of the ball when Gustaaf Groeneveldt tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Sportivo Ben Hur's Jorge Hagi in the 66th minute got a chance for a shot 66th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Netherlands's goalie prevented a goal. Sportivo Ben Hur's Emanuel Hielscher was substituted for Délio Toledo. A nice corner shot did that Witalis Maruda got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Arnout Reekers quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Wim Wilmes's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Montrell Harrell firmly grabbed it by the left post. In the 80th minute Netherlands were awarded a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Gijsbert ter Kruimer got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Montrell Harrell quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 81stth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Montrell Harrell, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jorge Hagi in the 85th minute of play. Arnout Reekers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jorge Hagi, who was totally free with the ball in the 87th minute. In the 88th minute the ball was on its way in behind Sportivo Ben Hur's goalkeeper Montrell Harrell, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 91 minutes into the match, David Eikelkamp had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Montrell Harrell. Sportivo Ben Hur's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that David Eikelkamp was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-3. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Anselmo Lluis in the 96th minute of play. The Sportivo Ben Hur supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Netherlands's performance. The match ended with a win for Netherlands.