Challenge

ACR Olimpico
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Gijsbert ter Kruimer made the kick off which started today's match. Alvaro Sforza might have been able to make a better finish in the 4th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Arnout Reekers. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Alvaro Sforza ran back to his position shaking his head. After a defensive mix-up in Netherlands's zone, Alvaro Sforza stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Arnout Reekers came out of the goal and Alvaro Sforza tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. AC Roma's Cristoforo Brillante played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Wim Wilmes in the 11th minute of play. In the 11th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristoforo Brillante saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lars Meesters in the 13th minute of play forced AC Roma's goalkeeper Cristoforo Brillante to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arnout Reekers came out of the goal in the 14th minute to try and stop a shot by AC Roma's Alvaro Sforza. But to his dismay, Alvaro Sforza quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. 19 minutes into the match, AC Roma's goal looked a bit too open when Gijsbert ter Kruimer came free, but Cristoforo Brillante reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of Netherlands booed when AC Roma was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 20 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ferdinando Caponera didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 22nd minute of the match Netherlands got a corner. AC Roma'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. After taking down the ball on Netherlands's corner Gijsbert ter Kruimer fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Cristoforo Brillante quite easily take care of the ball. In the 26th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristoforo Brillante saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Cristoforo Brillante 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. Cristoforo Brillante took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Wim Wilmes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Cristoforo Brillante came out of the goal in the 41st 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 1-2. The supporters of Netherlands booed when AC Roma was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Javier Della Francesca didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Fabiano Di Rocco got free with Arnout Reekers in the 47th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Alvaro Sforza made the kick off in the second half. Gigi Chificeac hit a great freekick 51 minutes into the match. Lars Meesters could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 53rd minute of the match, but Cristoforo Brillante made a huge save. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Fabiano Di Rocco in the 56th minute of play. Cristoforo Brillante made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 60th minute. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alvaro Sforza, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. AC Roma's Cristoforo Brillante proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 64th minute of the match, managed to save AC Roma from getting a goal against them. In the 65th minute Fabiano Di Rocco 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. In the 68th minute, Gigi Chificeac hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Cristoforo Brillante showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wim Wilmes in the 70th minute of the match. In the 72nd minute Fabiano Di Rocco 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. In the 73rd match minute, AC Roma was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ferdinando Caponera to maneuver through the defense. In the 79th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristoforo Brillante saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Alvaro Sforza in the 82nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Arnout Reekers prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 85th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristoforo Brillante saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Horia Nasta hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. The AC Roma fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Netherlands were clearly better and deserved to take the win.