Challenge

Stadion Radlin
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Ralph Hinder kicked off to start the match. 4 minutes into the match, Gustaaf Groeneveldt had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Talha Mertkal. Kolonia Radlin's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gustaaf Groeneveldt was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Talha Mertkal showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer, who was totally free with the ball in the 8th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Kolonia Radlin's zone, Gustaaf Groeneveldt stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Talha Mertkal came out of the goal and Gustaaf Groeneveldt tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Wim Wilmes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Ralph Hinder had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 26th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 26 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ralph Hinder. Gust Ennemans made in the 29th minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by Kolonia Radlin's David Brás. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 30th minute of play forced Kolonia Radlin's goalkeeper Talha Mertkal to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Wim Wilmes took the ball and in the 33 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Talha Mertkal. Talha Mertkal dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-2. Talha Mertkal showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. After a rather tough play, Kolonia Radlin's Teobald Ludwa got a free kick in the 41st minute. After a rather tough play, Kolonia Radlin's Teobald Ludwa got a free kick in the 44th minute. In the 46th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Talha Mertkal saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 48 minutes into the match, Kolonia Radlin's goal looked a bit too open when Gijsbert ter Kruimer came free, but Talha Mertkal reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 49th minute after Kolonia Radlin's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. After taking down the ball on Netherlands's corner Gijsbert ter Kruimer fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Talha Mertkal quite easily take care of the ball. After the first half Netherlands were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Gijsbert ter Kruimer to make the kick off. The supporters of Kolonia Radlin booed when Netherlands was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 52 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lars Meesters didn't get a good kick on the ball. Through an outstanding action, after 56 minutes, Talha Mertkal successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. In the 59th minute, Teobald Ludwa made a precise shot to the right of Arnout Reekers. Netherlands's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. Ralph Hinder'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. Ralph Hinder helped the player get up and apologised. After 62 played minutes Kolonia Radlin got a freekick which was hit by Ralph Hinder. 68 minutes had been played when some careless play by Netherlands's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Ralph Hinder was slow to take the kick. During this time Kolonia Radlin's players had a chance to rest. David Brás stood ready after the free kick and tried to head the ball into the goal, but got pushed from behind by one of Netherlands's defenders and the ball went out. Kolonia Radlin appealed in vain for a penalty, the referee looked over at the linesman, but the flag stayed down. No Penalty. Talha Mertkal took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Wim Wilmes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Lars Meesters received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 73rd minute. Talha Mertkal tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Kolonia Radlin's Marek Bergkamp was substituted for Ralph Hinder. After a rather tough play, Kolonia Radlin's David Brás got a free kick in the 76th minute. Gustaaf Groeneveldt could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 81st minute of the match, but Talha Mertkal made a huge save. In the 91st minute of the match, Gustaaf Groeneveldt got a very nice opportunity to score, but Talha Mertkal was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. If Gijsbert ter Kruimer had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After having played for 97 minutes, Gustaaf Groeneveldt managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Netherlands's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gustaaf Groeneveldt was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The Netherlands supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Netherlands would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.