Challenge

Vicarage Road
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Jonathan Soon took the kick off in the first half of the match. Ben Foster made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 3rd minute of play. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 4th minute after Watford FC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. 6 minutes into the match, Watford FC's goal looked a bit too open when Gijsbert ter Kruimer came free, but Ben Foster reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ben Foster 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. If Gustaaf Groeneveldt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 14th minute, Jonathan Soon made a precise shot to the right of Arnout Reekers. Netherlands's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lars Meesters in the 18th minute of play forced Watford FC's goalkeeper Ben Foster to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 19 minutes had been played when some careless play by Watford FC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer was slow to take the kick. During this time Netherlands's players had a chance to rest. The corner led Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer to fire away a dangerous shot which Ben Foster despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. With a little luck, Netherlands's Arnout Reekers got control of the ball when Philip Håning tried to sneak it across the goal line. Netherlands's defense didn't have a chance, in the 22nd minute, when Philip Håning scored to the left of an out of position Arnout Reekers, making the score, 2-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 26th minute of play forced Watford FC's goalkeeper Ben Foster to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Netherlands's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 27th minute. The corner led Netherlands's Wim Wilmes to a score. 2-1 in the 27th minute. In the 32nd minute, Roy Lönn hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 33rd 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: 2-2. 38 minutes into the match, Watford FC's goal looked a bit too open when Gustaaf Groeneveldt came free, but Ben Foster reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 40 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ben Foster narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 43rd minute Jonathan Soon 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. Philip Håning could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 45th minute of the match, but Arnout Reekers made a huge save. 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.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Gijsbert ter Kruimer to strike the kick off in the second half. With a little luck, Watford FC's Ben Foster got control of the ball when Wim Wilmes tried to sneak it across the goal line. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Watford FC's goalie and right to Lars Meesters. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Watford FC's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. After a defensive mix-up in Watford FC's zone, Gijsbert ter Kruimer stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ben Foster came out of the goal and Gijsbert ter Kruimer tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Thanks to some nice moves Gustaaf Groeneveldt could shoot a difficult shot in the 56th minute, which Ben Foster however easily saved by the left post. The supporters of Netherlands booed when Watford FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 57 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alexandre Carrasqueira didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jonathan Soon scored 3-2 in the 59th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Arnout Reekers, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 65th minute, Jonathan Soon hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some fancy dribbling in the 68th minute, Wim Wilmes managed to get in a good position for a shot. Netherlands's supporters rose to their feet, but Wim Wilmes was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ben Foster breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Philip Håning struck a weak shot in the 70th minute. Arnout Reekers didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Watford FC. Gijsbert ter Kruimer received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 78th minute. Ben Foster tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wim Wilmes in the 85th minute of play forced Watford FC's goalkeeper Ben Foster to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 86th minute of the match Netherlands got a corner. Watford FC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Gijsbert ter Kruimer ran over to the corner to take the kick. After taking down the ball on Netherlands's corner Lars Meesters fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Ben Foster quite easily take care of the ball. 87 minutes into the match, Watford FC's goal looked a bit too open when David Eikelkamp came free, but Ben Foster reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Gustaaf Groeneveldt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 93rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When the referee blew the final whistle, Watford FC could leave the field as winners, despite Netherlands having more of the ball for most of the match.