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. Gijsbert ter Kruimer started the match with the kick off. Paolo Urko took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Gustaaf Groeneveldt came up free with the goalie in the 11th minute, the Netherlands fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Gustaaf Groeneveldt couldn't finish the play. ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s Elvio Lentovskiy quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Gust Ennemans, made in the 15th minute of the game. 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. In the 19th 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. In the 20th minute, Osvaldo Infante hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 30thth minute of the game Wim Wilmes who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s Paolo Urko was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 30 minutes in the game, the ball went up into the seats when Netherlands's Wim Wilmes fired away a shot that was just a little bit too high. He walked away shaking his head. After having played for 39 minutes, Gijsbert ter Kruimer managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Netherlands's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gijsbert ter Kruimer was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Mai Hong Zhen's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Arnout Reekers read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 43rd minute of play. ≡≡ 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 46th minute of play. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Korhan Türkol was the one to do the kick off. 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. The Netherlands fans' excitement grew in the 58th match minute when Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Paolo Urko 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 68th minute. 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 72nd minute. After a defensive mix-up in ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s zone, Gustaaf Groeneveldt stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Paolo Urko 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. Gustaaf Groeneveldt could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 81st minute of the match, but Paolo Urko made a huge save. Mai Hong Zhen struck a weak shot in the 88th minute. Arnout Reekers didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡. 90 minutes into the game, Wim Wilmes recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Paolo Urko. Wim Wilmes showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 0-3. The crowd rose to their feet as Wim Wilmes kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Paolo Urko. That made the score 0-4 in the 93 minute of play. A sloppy throw-in by Gust Ennemans in the 96th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡'s Osvaldo Infante. In the 98th match minute, ≡≡ SOMOS ARGENTINA ≡≡ was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Korhan Türkol to maneuver through the defense. Netherlands's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.