Challenge

Emirates Stadium
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Gijsbert ter Kruimer started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Ryszard Wnukowski didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt went, in the 5th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. After 12 minutes of play, Arsenal's Giotis Kourmouzis made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Arnout Reekers was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 16th minute, Artur Faron made a precise shot to the right of Arnout Reekers. Netherlands's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-1. 23 minutes into the match, Arsenal's goal looked a bit too open when Wim Wilmes came free, but Ryszard Wnukowski reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When the match had gone on for 28 minutes, Gijsbert ter Kruimer put it in 2-2 from a short distance just to the right of Ryszard Wnukowski. Netherlands's defense didn't have a chance, in the 31st minute, when Artur Faron scored to the left of an out of position Arnout Reekers, making the score, 3-2. In the 34th minute, Arsenal's Giotis Kourmouzis ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Arnout Reekers. Arnout Reekers yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 4-2. In the 38th minute Netherlands were awarded a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer went to the cornerflag to take it. The audience was convinced that Wim Wilmes's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Ryszard Wnukowski was relentless in the 42nd minute of the game. Arnout Reekers was a little too slow when Lukasz Bronder got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 45th minute. The score was now 5-2.

The supporters of Arsenal booed when Netherlands was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 55 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mathijn Doctor didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gustaaf Groeneveldt fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ryszard Wnukowski having to interfere. 62 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ryszard Wnukowski narrowly saved just below the crossbar. With a little luck, Arsenal's Ryszard Wnukowski got control of the ball when Gustaaf Groeneveldt tried to sneak it across the goal line. Lars Meesters hit a great freekick 65 minutes into the match. If Gustaaf Groeneveldt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lucas Pimentel, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ryszard Wnukowski made an important save on a dangerous shot by Wim Wilmes in the 72nd minute. After some careless play in the Netherlands defense, Giotis Kourmouzis 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. Giotis Kourmouzis kicked well hit freekick during the 78th minute of the match. With an all-out effort, Netherlands's Ryszard Wnukowski threw himself towards the right post 83 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Gijsbert ter Kruimer, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. After a defensive mix-up in Arsenal's zone, Gustaaf Groeneveldt stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ryszard Wnukowski came out of the goal and Gustaaf Groeneveldt tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Giotis Kourmouzis kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. After a rather tough play, Arsenal's Lucas Pimentel got a free kick in the 94th minute. Arsenal were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Netherlands for a fine match.