Challenge

Stadio Olimpico
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Gerasim Nachov started the match with the kick off. Wim Wilmes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 7th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Avgustin Yochev having to interfere. Avgustin Yochev made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 9th minute of play. 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 10th minute. Lars Meesters was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kosta Kúnov in the 12th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arnout Reekers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kosta Kúnov, who was totally free with the ball in the 12th minute. In the 15th minute Gustaaf Groeneveldt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Avgustin Yochev saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some careless play in the Netherlands defense, Velichko Shindarov kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Arnout Reekers. The Netherlands fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Arnout Reekers should have stopped the shot. After 29 played minutes Laziali got a freekick which was hit by Veliko Stefchov. Wim Wilmes scored 1-1 in the 36th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Avgustin Yochev, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Thomas Rix made in the 39th minute of the game a sloppy throw-in which Kosta Kúnov however managed to control. If Gustaaf Groeneveldt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Gerasim Nachov scored 2-1 in the 45th 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.

The wind increased when Gijsbert ter Kruimer made the kick off in the second half. Gerasim Nachov's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Arnout Reekers read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 55th minute of play. In the 57th minute Netherlands were awarded a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer went to the cornerflag to take it. Egbert Nijveldt made a great header on Netherlands's corner, it was just that Laziali's Avgustin Yochev managed to reach the ball for a save. Through an outstanding action, after 60 minutes, Avgustin Yochev successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Thomas Rix in the 61st minute of the match. Bobi Batov kicked well hit freekick during the 64th minute of the match. Avgustin Yochev 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. In the 67th minute, Gijsbert ter Kruimer 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. 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 76th minute. The corner led Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer to fire away a dangerous shot which Avgustin Yochev despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. 77 minutes had been played when some careless play by Laziali'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. Gijsbert ter Kruimer made a great header on Netherlands's corner, it was just that Laziali's Avgustin Yochev managed to reach the ball for a save. Laziali's Avgustin Yochev played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 81st minute of play. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kosta Kúnov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The referee gave Laziali a penalty, 85 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Thomas Rix, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Netherlands's Arnout Reekers. 3-2. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gerasim Nachov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Kosta Kúnov in the 91st minute of the match. Netherlands's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.