Challenge

PARS STADIUM
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Gijsbert ter Kruimer made the kick off which started today's match. After a defensive mix-up in PERSPOLIS's zone, Gustaaf Groeneveldt stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Edgar Badia 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 7th minute of play forced PERSPOLIS's goalkeeper Edgar Badia to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Edgar Badia showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 10th minute of the match. Gijsbert ter Kruimer struck a weak shot in the 12th minute. Edgar Badia didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Netherlands. 14 minutes into the match, Gustaaf Groeneveldt notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of PERSPOLIS's Edgar Badia. Edgar Badia was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Emiliano Quintero in the 21st minute of play. In the 26th minute Gustaaf Groeneveldt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Edgar Badia saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 27th minute after PERSPOLIS's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. Lars Meesters made a great header on Netherlands's corner, it was just that PERSPOLIS's Edgar Badia managed to reach the ball for a save. Edgar Badia took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kees Mooiweer, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Constantino Salgado could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 30th minute of the match, but Arnout Reekers made a huge save. With a little luck, Netherlands's Arnout Reekers got control of the ball when Facundo Feria tried to sneak it across the goal line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer got a good chance for a goal in the 38th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 41st minute got a chance for a shot 41st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye PERSPOLIS's goalie prevented a goal. After 41 minutes, Gijsbert ter Kruimer made it 0-2 with a short kick to the right side. PERSPOLIS's Edgar Badia tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Emiliano Quintero to make the kick off. A collision led to Netherlands getting a freekick after 51 minutes play. David Eikelkamp hit a great ball. Facundo Feria recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 55th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt got a good chance for a goal in the 62nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. PERSPOLIS's Ekialde Nadal was substituted for Facundo Feria. After 66 minutes of play, Netherlands's Lars Meesters made it 0-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Edgar Badia was left in no man's land by his defense there! Wim Wilmes might have been able to make a better finish in the 71st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Edgar Badia. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Wim Wilmes ran back to his position shaking his head. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ekialde Nadal in the 75th minute of play. Gustaaf Groeneveldt who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 76thth minute tested the skills of Edgar Badia when he managed to save the team from getting behind. In the 80th minute of the match Netherlands got a corner. PERSPOLIS's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Gijsbert ter Kruimer ran over to the corner to take the kick. It was a well-played corner which Kees Mooiweer managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. After 83 minutes, Wim Wilmes made it 0-4 with a short kick to the right side. PERSPOLIS's Edgar Badia tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Gustaaf Groeneveldt sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of Netherlands booed when PERSPOLIS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Constantino Salgado didn't get a good kick on the ball. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cipriano Ganix in the 91st minute of play. When the match clock showed 92 minutes, the score became 0-5 when Gustaaf Groeneveldt sped through PERSPOLIS's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Edgar Badia. When the match was over Netherlands could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than PERSPOLIS throughout the match.