Challenge

Ruscova
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. Lars Meesters sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Helmuth Duckadam showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wim Wilmes, who was totally free with the ball in the 6th minute. 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. In the 9th minute Çetin Kantürk 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. Helmuth Duckadam 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 12th minute. After having played for 16 minutes, Wim Wilmes managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Netherlands's supporters crossed their fingers, but Wim Wilmes was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Netherlands's defense didn't have a chance, in the 20th minute, when Petruț Fințescu scored to the left of an out of position Arnout Reekers, making the score, 1-0. In the 23rd match minute, FC Ruscova was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Manuel Şoimu to maneuver through the defense. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 26th minute of the match, managed to save Netherlands from getting a goal against them. Wim Wilmes struck a weak shot in the 27th minute. Helmuth Duckadam didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Netherlands. Marcu Iovan kicked well hit freekick during the 28th minute of the match. Helmuth Duckadam 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 29th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wim Wilmes in the 35th minute of play forced FC Ruscova's goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lars Meesters in the 36th minute of play forced FC Ruscova's goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Helmuth Duckadam showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wim Wilmes, who was totally free with the ball in the 38th minute. 39 minutes had been played when some careless play by FC Ruscova'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. The corner went over the outstretched arms of FC Ruscova's goalie and right to David Eikelkamp. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. FC Ruscova's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. In the 46th minute, Wim Wilmes made a precise shot to the right of Helmuth Duckadam. FC Ruscova's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Çetin Kantürk to make the kick off. In the 50th minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt 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. 55 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Fausto Ferrante came free, but Arnout Reekers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Çetin Kantürk in the 57th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Çetin Kantürk, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Gijsbert ter Kruimer struck a weak shot in the 58th minute. Helmuth Duckadam didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Netherlands. FC Ruscova made a substitution. Algot Walroth replaced Albert Harbuz. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fausto Ferrante, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In a very dangerous position, a player in Netherlands fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 71st minute. Penalty! Arnout Reekers had in the 73rdth minute some difficulties stopping Emilian Marina's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Petruț Fințescu in the 82nd minute of play. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Çetin Kantürk in the 85th minute of the match. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Çetin Kantürk in the 88th minute of play. When Gustaaf Groeneveldt came up free with the goalie in the 89th 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. 90 minutes into the game, Gijsbert ter Kruimer was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Netherlands's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave FC Ruscova the free kick. In the 90th match minute, Netherlands was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gijsbert ter Kruimer to maneuver through the defense. In the 91stth minute of the game Çetin Kantürk who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Netherlands's Arnout Reekers was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. A collision led to Netherlands getting a freekick after 92 minutes play. David Eikelkamp hit a great ball. Arnout Reekers didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Fausto Ferrante went, in the 95th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The FC Ruscova fans cheered their team off the field, for while Netherlands had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.