Challenge

Pedro Bidegain
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 5th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Yu Kun saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Yu Kun came out of the goal in the 12th minute to try and stop a shot by Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer. But to his dismay, Gijsbert ter Kruimer quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wim Wilmes in the 17th minute of play forced Tio Cosme FC's goalkeeper Yu Kun to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Yu Kun showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wim Wilmes in the 21st minute of the match. Wim Wilmes recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 26th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 28th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Yu Kun saved Tio Cosme FC from getting behind. Yu Kun 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. When Abelardo Asur came up free with the goalie in the 36th minute, the Tio Cosme FC 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 Abelardo Asur couldn't finish the play. Tio Cosme FC's Yu Kun played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 39th minute of play. David Eikelkamp made a great header on Netherlands's corner, it was just that Tio Cosme FC's Yu Kun managed to reach the ball for a save. Yu Kun made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 43rd minute of play. Wim Wilmes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 46th minute. Yu Kun tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Victorino Gonzalez made a kick off. Gustaaf Groeneveldt scored 1-2 in the 61st match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Yu Kun, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Maximino Romero in the 68th minute of play. In the 72nd minute Victorino Gonzalez 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. Tio Cosme FC's Yu Kun proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 77th minute of the match, managed to save Tio Cosme FC from getting a goal against them. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Maximino Romero in the 82nd minute of play. In the 84th match minute, Netherlands was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by David Eikelkamp to maneuver through the defense. In the 85th minute Victorino Gonzalez 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. Lars Meesters fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Yu Kun having to interfere. The Netherlands players were the happier at the end of the match as they had prevented Tio Cosme FC from taking control. The game ends in a draw.