Challenge

Stade Michel Hidalgo
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Belgium's Edward Vanderstraeten 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. Christopher Barnier showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Edward Vanderstraeten, who was totally free with the ball in the 3rd minute. U.S.Normande's Aurélien Mussard quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Guillaume Bonte, made in the 10th minute of the game. In the 13thth minute of the game Edward Vanderstraeten who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U.S.Normande's Christopher Barnier was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. When Belgium's Edward Vanderstraeten in the 16th minute got a chance for a shot 16th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U.S.Normande's goalie prevented a goal. Casper Claes showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Aymerick Tourrette in the 17th minute of the match. After having played for 21 minutes, Bengt-Rune Mellberg managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U.S.Normande's supporters crossed their fingers, but Bengt-Rune Mellberg was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 22nd minute the ball was on its way in behind U.S.Normande's goalkeeper Christopher Barnier, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 24 minutes into the match, Belgium's Edward Vanderstraeten sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Christopher Barnier narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Christopher Barnier showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Edward Vanderstraeten, who was totally free with the ball in the 25th minute. With a little luck, Belgium's Casper Claes got control of the ball when Aurélien Mussard tried to sneak it across the goal line. Thanks to some nice moves Aurélien Mussard could shoot a difficult shot in the 33rd minute, which Casper Claes however easily saved by the left post. Edward Vanderstraeten recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 38th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Belgium's Casper Claes played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bengt-Rune Mellberg in the 41st minute of play. Christopher Barnier showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Edward Vanderstraeten, who was totally free with the ball in the 43rd minute. Belgium's Casper Claes proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 46th minute of the match, managed to save Belgium from getting a goal against them. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The crowd rose to their feet as Belgium's Edward Vanderstraeten slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Christopher Barnier. That made the score 0-1 after 53 minutes of play. Laurens Vandamme hit a great freekick 60 minutes into the match. Edward Vanderstraeten sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Edward Vanderstraeten had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 72 minutes Belgium's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Aymerick Tourrette who took care of the corner kick. After 75 minutes of play, Belgium's Edward Vanderstraeten made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Christopher Barnier was left in no man's land by his defense there! Edward Vanderstraeten's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 80thth minute, Christopher Barnier skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. After taking down the ball on Belgium's corner Sander Dermaut fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Christopher Barnier quite easily take care of the ball. Casper Claes took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bengt-Rune Mellberg, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 84th minute the ball was on its way in behind U.S.Normande's goalkeeper Christopher Barnier, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 87th minute of the match, Edward Vanderstraeten got a very nice opportunity to score, but Christopher Barnier was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. In the 88th minute of the match Belgium got a corner. U.S.Normande's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Edward Vanderstraeten ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner ended in Edward Vanderstraeten almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but U.S.Normande's Christopher Barnier did a great save. 90 minutes into the match, Belgium's Edward Vanderstraeten sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Christopher Barnier narrowly saved just below the crossbar. When Youri Borderie came up free with the goalie in the 95th minute, the U.S.Normande 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 Youri Borderie couldn't finish the play. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Belgium eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.