Challenge

Boundary Park
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. Guo Han Di showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 6th minute of the match. In the 8th minute the ball was on its way in behind Oldham Athletic's goalkeeper Guo Han Di, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 11 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian-Federico Dolić came free, but Arnout Reekers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 13th minute of the match Oldham Athletic got a corner. Netherlands's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Filippo Bobbio ran over to the corner to take the kick. In the 15th minute, Egbert Nijveldt hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 17 minutes into the game, Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Guo Han Di made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. With an all-out effort, Oldham Athletic's Arnout Reekers threw himself towards the right post 20 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Cristian-Federico Dolić, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. After 21 minutes Netherlands's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Filippo Bobbio who took care of the corner kick. A nice corner shot did that Filippo Bobbio got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Arnout Reekers quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. 26 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian-Federico Dolić came free, but Arnout Reekers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 28th minute of the match, managed to save Netherlands from getting a goal against them. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 31st minute of play forced Oldham Athletic's goalkeeper Guo Han Di to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 32th minute after Oldham Athletic's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. Guo Han Di made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 35th minute of play. Gustaaf Groeneveldt fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Guo Han Di having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Zhao Yao Ying got free with Arnout Reekers in the 40th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If David Eikelkamp had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 44th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 47 minutes into the game, Egbert Nijveldt 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 Oldham Athletic the free kick. After a defensive mix-up in Netherlands's zone, Filippo Bobbio stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Arnout Reekers came out of the goal and Filippo Bobbio tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 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.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Zhao Yao Ying stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Anxo Cecilia in the 51st minute of the match. In the 53rd minute of the match Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Guo Han Di showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Oldham Athletic's zone, Lars Meesters stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Guo Han Di came out of the goal and Lars Meesters tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Guo Han Di made a fantastic save in the 59th minute, when Gustaaf Groeneveldt sent off a good shot on target. Cristian-Federico Dolić received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Arnout Reekers tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Oldham Athletic's William Tingelholm was substituted for Anxo Cecilia. Oldham Athletic made a substitution. Valter Abrahamsson replaced Åke Aspengren. Arnout Reekers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Zhao Yao Ying, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. In the 71stth minute of the game Zhao Yao Ying 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. Gustaaf Groeneveldt received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Guo Han Di tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 77th minute, Filippo Bobbio hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Gösta Brolin'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. Gösta Brolin helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Oldham Athletic getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Gösta Brolin hit a great ball. Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer got a good chance for a goal in the 80th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 82nd minute of play forced Oldham Athletic's goalkeeper Guo Han Di to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Oldham Athletic's goalie and right to Gustaaf Groeneveldt. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Oldham Athletic's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Gustaaf Groeneveldt might have been able to make a better finish in the 93rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Guo Han Di. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Gustaaf Groeneveldt ran back to his position shaking his head. Guo Han Di made a fantastic save in the 96th minute, when Gustaaf Groeneveldt sent off a good shot on target. The Oldham Athletic supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Netherlands's performance. The match ended with a win for Netherlands.