Challenge

Antonio V. Liberti
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, 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. Mai Hong Zhen started the match with the kick off. ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s Paolo Urko played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Wim Wilmes in the 3rd minute of play. Paolo Urko took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Wim Wilmes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Paolo Urko showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wim Wilmes, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. In the 14th minute, Esteve Vistruario hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some careless play in the Netherlands defense, Mai Hong Zhen 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. In the 19th minute the ball was on its way in behind ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s goalkeeper Paolo Urko, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 21 minutes into the match, Wim Wilmes notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s Paolo Urko. Paolo Urko was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Paolo Urko 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. Netherlands's Lars Meesters got a good chance for a goal in the 33rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When Mai Hong Zhen, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 36 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Arnout Reekers was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. When Netherlands's Lars Meesters in the 39th minute got a chance for a shot 39th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s goalie prevented a goal. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 40th minute of the match, managed to save Netherlands from getting a goal against them. The supporters of Netherlands booed when ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡ was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 42 match minutes in a wonderful position. Osvaldo Infante didn't get a good kick on the ball. ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s Paolo Urko played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 43rd minute of play. In the 43rd minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Netherlands fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-2. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Gijsbert ter Kruimer made a kick off. ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s attentive Clemente Sindo managed to snatch the ball when Gust Ennemans made a throw-in in the 53rd minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mai Hong Zhen in the 54th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Korhan Türkol in the 58th minute of play. Gustaaf Groeneveldt's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Paolo Urko firmly grabbed it by the left post. In the 60th minute, Gijsbert ter Kruimer ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Paolo Urko was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-3. The audience thought a goal was coming when Wim Wilmes got free with Paolo Urko in the 65th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 68th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Paolo Urko saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mai Hong Zhen in the 71st minute of the match. In the 74th match minute, ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Clemente Sindo to maneuver through the defense. 77 minutes had been played when some careless play by ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer was slow to take the kick. During this time Netherlands's players had a chance to rest. ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s Clemente Sindo quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Gust Ennemans, made in the 79th minute of the game. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mai Hong Zhen in the 80th minute of play. Paolo Urko showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wim Wilmes in the 82nd minute of the match. 85 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Paolo Urko narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 87th minute, Mai Hong Zhen left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡ fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-3. Both teams had looked equal from kick-off, and no-one was surprised when the match finally ended in a draw.