Challenge

MERT ARENA
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Gijsbert ter Kruimer kicked off to start the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniel Stålberg got free with Arnout Reekers in the 6th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Gustaaf Groeneveldt hit a great freekick 15 minutes into the match. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 21th minute after MERT FC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. A very nice done corner allowed Kees Mooiweer to score against Dursun Ekinci in MERT FC's goal. 0-1 after 21 minutes. Arnout Reekers made a fantastic save in the 24th minute, when Ahmet Orhan Kutulmuş sent off a good shot on target. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ahmet Orhan Kutulmuş in the 25th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Arnout Reekers prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Dursun Ekinci showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 27th minute of the match. If Wim Wilmes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 31 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Wim Wilmes sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Dursun Ekinci narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 36th minute Naci Kaynak 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 40th minute of play forced MERT FC's goalkeeper Dursun Ekinci to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The crowd rose to their feet as MERT FC's Daniel Stålberg slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Arnout Reekers. That made the score 1-1 after 42 minutes of play. 45 minutes into the match, MERT FC's goal looked a bit too open when Wim Wilmes came free, but Dursun Ekinci reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Naci Kaynak stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Aurelian Caciulescu hit a great freekick 56 minutes into the match. Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt got a good chance for a goal in the 57th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Daniel Stålberg had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 59th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. MERT FC's Dursun Ekinci proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 61st minute of the match, managed to save MERT FC from getting a goal against them. When Wim Wilmes came up free with the goalie in the 65th 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 Wim Wilmes couldn't finish the play. Dursun Ekinci made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 66th minute. In the 66th minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Dursun Ekinci. The goal made the score 1-2. In the 68th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dursun Ekinci saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 73rd minute of the match, Gijsbert ter Kruimer tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Dursun Ekinci saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. MERT FC's Dursun Ekinci played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 75th minute of play. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Stålberg in the 78th minute of the match. In the 80th match minute, MERT FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aurelian Caciulescu to maneuver through the defense. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Naci Kaynak, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 85 played minutes MERT FC got a freekick which was hit by Raik Ağın. If Wim Wilmes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Netherlands supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Netherlands would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.