Challenge

Meerdorp Stadion
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Remco Dekker got the match started through his kick off. After a rather tough play, Decathlon Anderlecht's Mattijs Klaes got a free kick in the 4th minute. Decathlon Anderlecht's Ciro Lira played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 6th minute of play. Mattijs Klaes'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. Mattijs Klaes helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Netherlands booed when Decathlon Anderlecht was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mattijs Klaes didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Decathlon Anderlecht's zone, Wim Wilmes stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ciro Lira came out of the goal and Wim Wilmes tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Ciro Lira 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 13th minute. When Karel-Jan Beaufort fell near the penalty area in the 23rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Decathlon Anderlecht's protests and gave Karel-Jan Beaufort a yellow card for diving instead. Karel-Jan Beaufort hit a great freekick 23 minutes into the match. In the 23rd minute of the match Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Ciro Lira skillfully saved the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Remco Dekker in the 25th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ciro Lira showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wim Wilmes, who was totally free with the ball in the 30th minute. With a little luck, Netherlands's Arnout Reekers got control of the ball when Marcus Odin tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 35th minute of the match Decathlon Anderlecht got a corner. Netherlands's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Richy Valkeneers ran over to the corner to take the kick. Richy Valkeneers made a great header on Decathlon Anderlecht's corner, it was just that Netherlands's Arnout Reekers managed to reach the ball for a save. Ciro Lira took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. It was a well-played corner which Lars Meesters managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. After some fancy dribbling in the 43rd minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt managed to get in a good position for a shot. Netherlands's supporters rose to their feet, but Gustaaf Groeneveldt was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ciro Lira breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After some careless play in the Decathlon Anderlecht defense, Lars Meesters kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ciro Lira. The Decathlon Anderlecht fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ciro Lira should have stopped the shot. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Gijsbert ter Kruimer stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The supporters of Netherlands booed when Decathlon Anderlecht was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 50 match minutes in a wonderful position. Remco Dekker didn't get a good kick on the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers David Eikelkamp in the 51st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ciro Lira saved Decathlon Anderlecht from getting behind. After 52 minutes Decathlon Anderlecht'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. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Marcus Odin in the 55th minute of play. In the 60th minute, Netherlands's Wim Wilmes dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-2. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 64th minute of play forced Decathlon Anderlecht's goalkeeper Ciro Lira to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 65th minute after Decathlon Anderlecht's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Ciro Lira in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. David Eikelkamp fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ciro Lira having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lars Meesters in the 74th minute of play forced Decathlon Anderlecht's goalkeeper Ciro Lira to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Marcus Odin in the 83rd minute of the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Remco Dekker in the 84th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Arnout Reekers saved Netherlands from getting behind. Ciro Lira made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 85th minute of play. After 85 played minutes Decathlon Anderlecht got a freekick which was hit by Richy Valkeneers. After some fancy dribbling in the 86th minute, David Eikelkamp managed to get in a good position for a shot. Netherlands's supporters rose to their feet, but David Eikelkamp was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ciro Lira breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Mattijs Klaes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in Decathlon Anderlecht's zone, Gustaaf Groeneveldt stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ciro Lira 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 kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd minute of the match. When the final whistle sounded Netherlands left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Decathlon Anderlecht.