Challenge

AC Vallen
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) AC United's Bertil Näver 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. In the 4th minute Lars Meesters shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Roger Ekberg saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Lars Meesters came up free with the goalie in the 7th minute, the Netherlands 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 Lars Meesters couldn't finish the play. AC United's Roger Ekberg played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lars Meesters in the 11th minute of play. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 12th minute after AC United's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer made a great header on Netherlands's corner, it was just that AC United's Roger Ekberg managed to reach the ball for a save. Roger Ekberg took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lars Meesters, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Netherlands's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 16th minute. The corner led to Netherlands's Lars Meesters getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Torsten Enström, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Arnout Reekers didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Torsten Enström went, in the 22nd minute, to the upper right corner, 1-0 was the resulting score. A collision led to AC United getting a freekick after 26 minutes play. Ma Feng Kuan hit a great ball. In the 27th minute the ball was on its way in behind AC United's goalkeeper Roger Ekberg, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bertil Näver, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, AC United's Maman Sandiaji got a free kick in the 31st minute. In the 34thth minute of the game Bertil Näver 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. Bertil Näver blasted a shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Arnout Reekers having to make a save. Lars Meesters struck a weak shot in the 38th minute. Roger Ekberg didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Netherlands. 40 minutes into the match, Lars Meesters notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of AC United's Roger Ekberg. Roger Ekberg was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After a defensive mix-up in Netherlands's zone, Bertil Näver stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Arnout Reekers came out of the goal and Bertil Näver tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 47th match minute, AC United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Torsten Enström to maneuver through the defense. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

After having played for 53 minutes, Wim Wilmes managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Netherlands's supporters crossed their fingers, but Wim Wilmes was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Joel Lindman in the 55th 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. When the match had gone on for 56 minutes, Joel Lindman put it in 2-1 from a short distance just to the right of Arnout Reekers. Roger Ekberg 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 62nd minute. In the 62nd minute of the match, Gijsbert ter Kruimer tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Roger Ekberg saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. AC United's defense didn't have a chance, in the 67th minute, when Gijsbert ter Kruimer scored to the left of an out of position Roger Ekberg, making the score, 2-2. Roger Ekberg showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wim Wilmes, who was totally free with the ball in the 73rd minute. Roger Ekberg showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 80th minute of the match. In the 81st minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Roger Ekberg saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Roger Ekberg was a little too slow when Wim Wilmes got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 82nd minute. The score was now 2-3. AC United's Egil Tidéksson was substituted for Erland Norberg. In the 87th match minute, AC United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Arne Alén to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 89th minute of play forced AC United's goalkeeper Roger Ekberg to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 90th minute after AC United's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. David Eikelkamp scored 2-4 in the 94th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Roger Ekberg, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Netherlands played a much better game than AC United and deserved their victory. The AC United players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.