Challenge

Characate Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) In the 11th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Osvaldo Daunte saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 12 minutes Characate FC'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. In the 19th minute of the match, Gerardo Santikurtz tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Arnout Reekers saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Osvaldo Daunte showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt, who was totally free with the ball in the 21st minute. Gijsbert ter Kruimer recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 23rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Osvaldo Daunte made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 28th minute of play. Leon Napierkowski hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. Gijsbert ter Kruimer made a great header on Netherlands's corner, it was just that Characate FC's Osvaldo Daunte managed to reach the ball for a save. If Gijsbert ter Kruimer had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With an all-out effort, Characate FC's Arnout Reekers threw himself towards the right post 40 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Gerardo Santikurtz, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gerardo Santikurtz in the 40th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 41st match minute, Netherlands was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lars Meesters to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to Netherlands getting a freekick after 46 minutes play. Bas Tuitert hit a great ball. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The supporters of Characate FC booed when Netherlands was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 51 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gijsbert ter Kruimer didn't get a good kick on the ball. Nestor Gaxan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 53rd minute. Arnout Reekers tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Leopoldo Afonso in the 56th minute of the match. 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 59th minute. The corner led Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer to fire away a dangerous shot which Osvaldo Daunte despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 63rd minute, Nestor Gaxan got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 66th minute Leopoldo Afonso 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. The audience was convinced that Leopoldo Afonso's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Arnout Reekers was relentless in the 66th minute of the game. Leopoldo Afonso scored 1-0 in the 70th 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. With a little luck, Characate FC's Osvaldo Daunte got control of the ball when Gustaaf Groeneveldt tried to sneak it across the goal line. A collision led to Characate FC getting a freekick after 83 minutes play. Gerardo Santikurtz hit a great ball. Wim Wilmes struck a weak shot in the 85th minute. Osvaldo Daunte didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Netherlands. 91 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Leopoldo Afonso came free, but Arnout Reekers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Gustaaf Groeneveldt during the 92nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 92nd minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Leopoldo Afonso, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.