Challenge

JUAN ANTONIO RUSSO
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Gijsbert ter Kruimer started the match with the kick off. Natalio Pacorro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 2nd minute of play. In the 5th match minute, EL RUSSO FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Segundo Stephen to maneuver through the defense. 7 minutes into the match, EL RUSSO FC's goal looked a bit too open when Gustaaf Groeneveldt came free, but Natalio Pacorro reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Wim Wilmes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 15th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 18th minute Lars Meesters shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Natalio Pacorro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Natalio Pacorro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from David Eikelkamp in the 19th minute of play. In the 20th minute Netherlands were awarded a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer went to the cornerflag to take it. It was a well-played corner which Egbert Nijveldt managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. Olgierd Prusek received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 27th minute. Arnout Reekers tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 35 minutes into the match, Gijsbert ter Kruimer notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of EL RUSSO FC's Natalio Pacorro. Natalio Pacorro was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. The throw-in from Kees Mooiweer in the 40th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by EL RUSSO FC's Silvio Marzoli. After a rather tough play, Netherlands's Lars Meesters got a free kick in the 42nd minute. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Olgierd Prusek, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

In the 53rd minute Olgierd Prusek 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 throw-in from Kees Mooiweer in the 56th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by EL RUSSO FC's Segundo Stephen. The supporters of Netherlands booed when EL RUSSO FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. Segundo Stephen didn't get a good kick on the ball. Natalio Pacorro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Wim Wilmes in the 61st minute of play. Natalio Pacorro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lars Meesters in the 66th minute of play. 68 minutes into the match, EL RUSSO FC's goal looked a bit too open when Gijsbert ter Kruimer came free, but Natalio Pacorro reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When EL RUSSO FC's Olgierd Prusek in the 70th minute got a chance for a shot 70th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Netherlands's goalie prevented a goal. Natalio Pacorro showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 72nd minute of the match. Natalio Pacorro took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from David Eikelkamp, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Wim Wilmes was extremely unlucky when he, in the 81st minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. With a little luck, EL RUSSO FC's Natalio Pacorro got control of the ball when Gustaaf Groeneveldt tried to sneak it across the goal line. Melquiades Garaona'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. Melquiades Garaona helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to EL RUSSO FC getting a freekick after 90 minutes play. Melquiades Garaona hit a great ball. EL RUSSO FC made a substitution. Max Ferro replaced Boruc Jaraczeski. Melquiades Garaona hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. Bas Tuitert fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Natalio Pacorro having to interfere.