Challenge

Red Arena
Spectators: 52 (Terracing: 39, Seating: 12, VIP seats: 1) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Gijsbert ter Kruimer kicked off to start the match. Arnout Reekers was a little too slow when Ali Karimi got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 3rd minute. The score was now 1-0. In the 9th minute the ball was on its way in behind Red Army's goalkeeper Nils Elmhuus, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After 11 played minutes Red Army got a freekick which was hit by Hossein Fatehi. Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent away a hard shot on goal in the 13th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 16th match minute, Netherlands was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kees Mooiweer to maneuver through the defense. After 16 played minutes, Red Army's Mahbod Nikbakht-Vahedi shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Arnout Reekers came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Red Army reached it. After some fancy dribbling in the 18th minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt managed to get in a good position for a shot. Netherlands's supporters rose to their feet, but Gustaaf Groeneveldt was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nils Elmhuus breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After some fancy dribbling in the 24th minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt managed to get in a good position for a shot. Netherlands's supporters rose to their feet, but Gustaaf Groeneveldt was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nils Elmhuus breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Hossein Fatehi kicked well hit freekick during the 33rd minute of the match. 39 minutes into the match, Red Army's goal looked a bit too open when Wim Wilmes came free, but Nils Elmhuus reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nils Elmhuus took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lars Meesters, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Gijsbert ter Kruimer scored 1-1 in the 44th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Nils Elmhuus, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 46th minute of the match, managed to save Netherlands from getting a goal against them. After 47 played minutes Red Army got a freekick which was hit by Mehrab Rohani. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Ali Karimi made a kick off. A hard shot 51 in the game by Gustaaf Groeneveldt from a close distance when the talented Nils Elmhuus managed to make a qualified save. Red Army's players were relieved. After a rather tough play, Red Army's Hossein Fatehi got a free kick in the 67th minute. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ali Reza Abdi in the 69th minute of the match. Gustaaf Groeneveldt fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nils Elmhuus having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Wim Wilmes got free with Nils Elmhuus in the 78th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ali Reza Abdi in the 82nd minute of the match. 85 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Roozbeh Nakisa came free, but Arnout Reekers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gustaaf Groeneveldt recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 89th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a rather tough play, Red Army's Rostam Mansourian got a free kick in the 91st minute. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rostam Mansourian in the 93rd minute of play. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Netherlands eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.