Challenge

Netherlands Arena
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Marcu Cruceru took the kick off in the first half of the match. AC Milan Tigers's Codrin Barbăneagră proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 6th minute of the match, managed to save AC Milan Tigers from getting a goal against them. After 9 minutes of play, AC Milan Tigers's Marcu Cruceru made it 0-1 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 of the match AC Milan Tigers got a corner. Netherlands's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Costin Ciorobîtcă ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner ended in Costin Ciorobîtcă almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Netherlands's Arnout Reekers did a great save. Arnout Reekers stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Martin Răuţă's shot from short distance in the 18th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wim Wilmes in the 21st minute of play forced AC Milan Tigers's goalkeeper Codrin Barbăneagră to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Codrin Barbăneagră had great luck who in the 23rdth minute grab hold of the ball when Bas Tuitert from a short distance tried to put the ball inside the right post. Codrin Barbăneagră made a fantastic save in the 25th minute, when Gustaaf Groeneveldt sent off a good shot on target. AC Milan Tigers's Codrin Barbăneagră proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 27th minute of the match, managed to save AC Milan Tigers from getting a goal against them. Arnout Reekers didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Martin Răuţă went, in the 28th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. In the 34th minute, AC Milan Tigers's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Gustaaf Groeneveldt fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. A collision led to AC Milan Tigers getting a freekick after 36 minutes play. Marcu Cruceru hit a great ball. After having played for 38 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. Codrin Barbăneagră showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lars Meesters in the 42nd minute of the match. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bogdan Sârban, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Wim Wilmes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Codrin Barbăneagră having to interfere.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Gijsbert ter Kruimer was the one to do the kick off. Gustaaf Groeneveldt struck a weak shot in the 52nd minute. Codrin Barbăneagră didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Netherlands. Wim Wilmes scored 1-2 in the 55th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Codrin Barbăneagră, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 58th minute Valentin Enciu 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. Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 65th minute Marcu Cruceru 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. Wim Wilmes scored 2-2 in the 66th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Codrin Barbăneagră, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 70th minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt made a precise shot to the right of Codrin Barbăneagră. AC Milan Tigers's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-2. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 75th minute of play forced AC Milan Tigers's goalkeeper Codrin Barbăneagră to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Codrin Barbăneagră 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 Arnout Reekers proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 81st minute of the match, managed to save Netherlands from getting a goal against them. In the 83rd minute, Martin Răuţă reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Arnout Reekers. The goal made the score 3-3. In the 88th minute Gustaaf Groeneveldt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Codrin Barbăneagră saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 90th minute, Wim Wilmes 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: 4-3. With a little luck, Netherlands's Arnout Reekers got control of the ball when Martin Răuţă tried to sneak it across the goal line. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Netherlands had played much better football throughout.