Challenge

Marcelo Gallardo
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Gijsbert ter Kruimer started the match with the kick off. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ernesto Poncio in the 10th minute of the match. In the 11th minute of the match Yofré AFC got a corner. Netherlands's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Denis Ibañez ran over to the corner to take the kick. Venancio Cesario made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lars Meesters in the 14th minute of play. Egbert Nijveldt hit a great freekick 16 minutes into the match. If Gustaaf Groeneveldt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 31st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 34th minute Mateo Messi 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 36th minute of play forced Yofré AFC's goalkeeper Venancio Cesario to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 37th minute Netherlands were awarded a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer went to the cornerflag to take it. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Orlando Lizardi in the 38th minute of play. 40 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Venancio Cesario narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Arnout Reekers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ernesto Poncio, who was totally free with the ball in the 41st minute. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The wind increased when Ernesto Poncio made the kick off in the second half. After some careless play in the Netherlands defense, Ernesto Poncio kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Arnout Reekers. The Netherlands fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Arnout Reekers should have stopped the shot. Venancio Cesario showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 58th minute of the match. 58 minutes into the match, Gijsbert ter Kruimer notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Yofré AFC's Venancio Cesario. Venancio Cesario was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. A collision led to Yofré AFC getting a freekick after 60 minutes play. Ernesto Poncio hit a great ball. After 61 played minutes Yofré AFC got a freekick which was hit by Ernesto Poncio. Wim Wilmes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd 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 Mateo Messi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Venancio Cesario stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Wim Wilmes's shot from short distance in the 68th minute. In the 75th minute of the match, Lars Meesters tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Venancio Cesario saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. After a rather tough play, Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer got a free kick in the 86th minute. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Matias Preto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.