Challenge

Mezzano
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Gijsbert ter Kruimer kicked off to start the match. Bruno Mazza 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. A collision led to Netherlands getting a freekick after 8 minutes play. Egbert Nijveldt hit a great ball. After 9 played minutes Netherlands got a freekick which was hit by Bas Tuitert. Wim Wilmes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Bruno Mazza tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Alessio Volta's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 14thth minute, Arnout Reekers skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. 15 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Elpidio Macias came free, but Arnout Reekers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Gustaaf Groeneveldt came up free with the goalie in the 16th minute, the Netherlands fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Gustaaf Groeneveldt couldn't finish the play. U.P. Gavellese's Bruno Mazza played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lars Meesters in the 17th minute of play. In the 21st minute David Eikelkamp shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bruno Mazza saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Wim Wilmes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 22nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bruno Mazza having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alessio Volta in the 24th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 29th minute of play forced U.P. Gavellese's goalkeeper Bruno Mazza to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 30 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Carlos Fernando Bertassi. Bruno Mazza 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 32nd minute. Florian Bulla sent away a hard shot on goal in the 39th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 44 minutes into the game, Ricardo Kaká recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Arnout Reekers. Ricardo Kaká showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-1. Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent away a hard shot on goal in the 47th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 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.

After some careless play in the Netherlands defense, Florian Bulla 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. In the 61st minute of the match, Gijsbert ter Kruimer tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Bruno Mazza saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. After 62 played minutes Netherlands got a freekick which was hit by David Eikelkamp. In the 63rd minute of the match Florian Bulla sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Arnout Reekers skillfully saved the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gustaaf Groeneveldt got free with Bruno Mazza in the 67th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 68th minute, Wim Wilmes 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. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Florian Bulla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Bruno Mazza had great luck who in the 73rdth minute grab hold of the ball when Gijsbert ter Kruimer from a short distance tried to put the ball inside the right post. In the 75th minute of the match Netherlands got a corner. U.P. Gavellese'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. 77 minutes into the game, Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Bruno Mazza made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-3. In the 80th minute Alessio Volta 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. In the 83rd minute Alessio Volta 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. Bruno Mazza made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 89th minute of play. After some careless play in the U.P. Gavellese defense, Gustaaf Groeneveldt kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Bruno Mazza. The U.P. Gavellese fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Bruno Mazza should have stopped the shot. U.P. Gavellese made a substitution. Alexander Della Rocca replaced Ricardo Kaká. The U.P. Gavellese supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Netherlands's performance. The match ended with a win for Netherlands.