Challenge

Ruse Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Gust Ennemans got a throw-in 4 minutes in the game and the ball was received by Gustaaf Groeneveldt. In the 5th minute Lars Meesters shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Totyo Popisakov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to Netherlands getting a freekick after 6 minutes play. Egbert Nijveldt hit a great ball. Dimitar Berbatov hit a great freekick 8 minutes into the match. In the 11th match minute, Netherlands was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gijsbert ter Kruimer to maneuver through the defense. In the 14th minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt made a precise shot to the right of Totyo Popisakov. Crusaders of Dark's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. After having played for 18 minutes, Gijsbert ter Kruimer managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Netherlands's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gijsbert ter Kruimer was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Eligio Rojas charged in rather forcefully in the 19th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Eligio Rojas the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Crusaders of Dark getting a freekick after 19 minutes play. Eligio Rojas hit a great ball. The supporters of Netherlands booed when Crusaders of Dark was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eivind Lundemo didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 27th minute of play forced Crusaders of Dark's goalkeeper Totyo Popisakov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Eligio Rojas came up free with the goalie in the 31st minute, the Crusaders of Dark 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 Eligio Rojas couldn't finish the play. With a little luck, Netherlands's Arnout Reekers got control of the ball when Dimitar Berbatov tried to sneak it across the goal line. 39 minutes into the game, Gust Ennemans threw the ball into play from the sideline. Crusaders of Dark's Viden Belovezhdov quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dimitar Berbatov in the 41st minute of play. Totyo Popisakov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 42nd minute of play. In the 44th match minute, Crusaders of Dark was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vallo Lööper to maneuver through the defense. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Dimitar Berbatov to strike the kick off in the second half. Crusaders of Dark's attentive Viden Belovezhdov managed to snatch the ball when Gust Ennemans made a throw-in in the 54th minute of the game. Totyo Popisakov made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 55th minute. Arnout Reekers didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Dimitar Berbatov went, in the 60th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. A collision led to Crusaders of Dark getting a freekick after 63 minutes play. Viden Belovezhdov hit a great ball. If Wim Wilmes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 67th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 69 minutes into the game, Gust Ennemans threw the ball into play from the sideline. Crusaders of Dark's Viden Belovezhdov quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. Gust Ennemans got a throw-in 72 minutes in the game and the ball was received by Gustaaf Groeneveldt. 75 minutes into the match, Crusaders of Dark's goalkeeper Totyo Popisakov had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dimitar Berbatov in the 79th minute of play. Lars Meesters received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 80th minute. Totyo Popisakov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Totyo Popisakov was a little too slow when Gustaaf Groeneveldt got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 82nd minute. The score was now 1-2. A hard shot 86 in the game by Gustaaf Groeneveldt from a close distance when the talented Totyo Popisakov managed to make a qualified save. Crusaders of Dark's players were relieved. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Dimitar Berbatov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Netherlands's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.