Challenge

Vila Belmiro
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Lanny Gilmore got the match started through his kick off. After having played for 3 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. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lanny Gilmore, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Aaron Smallwood showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer, who was totally free with the ball in the 12th minute. A throw-in in the 15th minute of the game was made by Kees Mooiweer with Wim Wilmes as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. Gijsbert ter Kruimer recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 16th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Aaron Smallwood made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 20th minute of play. After 25 played minutes Santos FC got a freekick which was hit by Lanny Gilmore. After some fancy dribbling in the 32nd minute, Gijsbert ter Kruimer managed to get in a good position for a shot. Netherlands's supporters rose to their feet, but Gijsbert ter Kruimer was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Aaron Smallwood breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 34thth minute of the game Lanny Gilmore 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. A nice corner shot did that Dominic Albright got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Arnout Reekers quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. In the 37th minute Gustaaf Groeneveldt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aaron Smallwood saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 47 minutes into the match, Gustaaf Groeneveldt notched a goal, 0-2, to the right of Santos FC's Aaron Smallwood. Aaron Smallwood was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Gijsbert ter Kruimer was the one to do the kick off. A throw-in in the 53rd minute of the game was made by Kees Mooiweer with Gustaaf Groeneveldt as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. In the 59th minute the ball was on its way in behind Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Aaron Smallwood made a fantastic save in the 61st minute, when Gustaaf Groeneveldt sent off a good shot on target. The audience thought a goal was coming when Wim Wilmes got free with Aaron Smallwood in the 66th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Wim Wilmes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 71st minute. Aaron Smallwood tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 75 minutes into the match, Santos FC's goal looked a bit too open when Gijsbert ter Kruimer came free, but Aaron Smallwood reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lanny Gilmore in the 79th minute of play. Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer got a good chance for a goal in the 84th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wim Wilmes in the 91st minute of play forced Santos FC's goalkeeper Aaron Smallwood to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Wim Wilmes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 97th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Netherlands played a much better game than Santos FC and deserved their victory. The Santos FC players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.