Challenge

Johan Cruyff Arena
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) In the 2nd minute, Lars Meesters ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Alvydas Turskis was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. In the 7th minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Alvydas Turskis was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Otto Ekgren in the 12th minute of play. In the 17th minute, Arne Zwartkruis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Alvydas Turskis 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 18th minute. Ronald Hoogland charged in rather forcefully in the 19th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Ronald Hoogland the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Ronald Hoogland hit a great freekick 19 minutes into the match. Ajax Amsterdam's Alvydas Turskis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 21st minute of play. Alvydas Turskis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt, who was totally free with the ball in the 22nd minute. A collision led to Netherlands getting a freekick after 23 minutes play. Mathijn Doctor hit a great ball. Arnout Reekers was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 23rd minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Pascal Hulsebos. In the 25th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alvydas Turskis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 30 minutes of play, Netherlands's David Eikelkamp made it 0-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Alvydas Turskis was left in no man's land by his defense there! Alvydas Turskis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lars Meesters, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. Alvydas Turskis 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 38th minute. Alvydas Turskis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 43rd minute of play. Arnout Reekers made a fantastic save in the 45th minute, when Otto Ekgren sent off a good shot on target. 47 minutes into the match, Ajax Amsterdam's Joost Holst sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Arnout Reekers narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-3 lead.

In the 52nd minute Otto Ekgren 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. Taco van Diemen's late challenge caught a Netherlands's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Taco van Diemen helped the player get up and apologised. In the 55th minute, Taco van Diemen hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Wim Wilmes in the 59th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Alvydas Turskis saved Ajax Amsterdam from getting behind. Gustaaf Groeneveldt could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 72nd minute of the match, but Alvydas Turskis made a huge save. A hard shot 72 in the game by Gustaaf Groeneveldt from a close distance when the talented Alvydas Turskis managed to make a qualified save. Ajax Amsterdam's players were relieved. Gustaaf Groeneveldts short, quick shot in the 72ndth minute got Alvydas Turskis to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 77th minute, Ronald Hoogland hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Alvydas Turskis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 86th minute of play forced Ajax Amsterdam's goalkeeper Alvydas Turskis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 87th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alvydas Turskis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Arne Zwartkruis kicked well hit freekick during the 88th minute of the match. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pascal Hulsebos in the 93rd minute of play. Ajax Amsterdam's Alvydas Turskis proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 96th minute of the match, managed to save Ajax Amsterdam from getting a goal against them. When the match was over Netherlands could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Ajax Amsterdam throughout the match.