Challenge

Parco della Pace
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Antonio Nero took the kick off in the first half of the match. Armando Izzo kicked well hit freekick during the 3rd minute of the match. Marco Silvestri 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. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 8th minute after SPALLETTE RETURNS's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. 9 minutes into the match, SPALLETTE RETURNS's goal looked a bit too open when Gustaaf Groeneveldt came free, but Marco Silvestri reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Cosimo Laudadio got free with Arnout Reekers in the 10th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Marco Silvestri 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 14th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 16th minute, Antonio Nero managed to get in a good position for a shot. SPALLETTE RETURNS's supporters rose to their feet, but Antonio Nero was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Arnout Reekers breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The audience thought a goal was coming when Antonio Nero got free with Arnout Reekers in the 20th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 22 minutes into the match, SPALLETTE RETURNS's goal looked a bit too open when Gijsbert ter Kruimer came free, but Marco Silvestri reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a little luck, Netherlands's Arnout Reekers got control of the ball when Antonio Nero tried to sneak it across the goal line. Arnout Reekers was out of position in the 28 minute of play, and Antonio Nero capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Antonio Nero really showed his touch with that goal: 1-0. Marco Silvestri took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Wim Wilmes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Marco Silvestri made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 33rd minute of play. Marco Silvestri 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 34th minute. In the 35th minute of the match Netherlands got a corner. SPALLETTE RETURNS'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. The corner led to Netherlands's Kees Mooiweer getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. Marco Silvestri showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 39th minute of the match. In the 44th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marco Silvestri saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. SPALLETTE RETURNS's Augusto Bevilacqua quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Kees Mooiweer, made in the 47th minute of the game. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

The wind increased when Gijsbert ter Kruimer made the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lars Meesters in the 52nd minute of play forced SPALLETTE RETURNS's goalkeeper Marco Silvestri to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Antonio Nero in the 60th minute of play. SPALLETTE RETURNS's Marco Silvestri played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Wim Wilmes in the 61st minute of play. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Antonio Nero in the 65th minute of play. When the match had gone on for 67 minutes, Gustaaf Groeneveldt put it in 2-1 from a short distance just to the right of Marco Silvestri. SPALLETTE RETURNS's Fortunato Santone was substituted for Armando Izzo. Antonio Nero sent away a hard shot on goal in the 74th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Marco Silvestri made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 85th minute of play. Marco Silvestri came out of the goal in the 87th minute to try and stop a shot by Netherlands's Wim Wilmes. But to his dismay, Wim Wilmes quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-2. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Antonio Nero in the 90th minute of the match. A collision led to SPALLETTE RETURNS getting a freekick after 91 minutes play. Davide Guerrini hit a great ball. Lars Meesters's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Marco Silvestri read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 94th minute of play.