Challenge

Alçapão da Baixada
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Horaţiu Măcrinici started the match with the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lars Meesters in the 3rd minute of play forced Nova Iguaçu MZFC's goalkeeper Mickaël Maris to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 10th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mickaël Maris saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nova Iguaçu MZFC's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Luiz Fábio de Medeiros in the 13th minute. In the 18th minute Horaţiu Măcrinici 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. Nova Iguaçu MZFC were awarded a corner in the 20th minute after Netherlands's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Luiz Fábio de Medeiros took the corner. The corner led Nova Iguaçu MZFC's Caco Matos to fire away a dangerous shot which Arnout Reekers despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Nova Iguaçu MZFC were awarded a corner in the 21th minute after Netherlands's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Luiz Fábio de Medeiros took the corner. Caco Matos hit a great freekick 21 minutes into the match. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ladislao Gerazan in the 26th minute of play. Ladislao Gerazan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 28th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 30th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mickaël Maris saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ladislao Gerazan got free with Arnout Reekers in the 33rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Arnout Reekers made an important save on a dangerous shot by Horaţiu Măcrinici in the 36th minute. With a little luck, Netherlands's Arnout Reekers got control of the ball when Ladislao Gerazan tried to sneak it across the goal line. 42 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Ladislao Gerazan came free, but Arnout Reekers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mickaël Maris took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Wim Wilmes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The wind increased when Gijsbert ter Kruimer made the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mickaël Maris saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Netherlands booed when Nova Iguaçu MZFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Zézinho Veloso didn't get a good kick on the ball. Nova Iguaçu MZFC's Mickaël Maris played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 59th minute of play. 60 minutes had been played when some careless play by Nova Iguaçu MZFC'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. Gijsbert ter Kruimer made a great header on Netherlands's corner, it was just that Nova Iguaçu MZFC's Mickaël Maris managed to reach the ball for a save. Mickaël Maris 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 63rd minute. 64 minutes in the game, Wim Wilmes dribbled his way through the penalty area and after maneuvering past an opponent, drilled a quick shot at the goal. The ball looked like it was going in, but it was hit a bit too hard and flew over the goal. Mickaël Maris showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wim Wilmes in the 66th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ladislao Gerazan in the 78th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Luiz Fábio de Medeiros hit a great freekick 81 minutes into the match. 88 minutes into the match, Nova Iguaçu MZFC's goal looked a bit too open when Wim Wilmes came free, but Mickaël Maris reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Netherlands's Lars Meesters got a free kick in the 89th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Caco Matos in the 91st minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Horaţiu Măcrinici in the 93rd minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Gustaaf Groeneveldt received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Mickaël Maris came out and tried to block the shot, but Gustaaf Groeneveldt slotted it home off the left post making it 1-2 in the 95th minute. When the final whistle sounded Netherlands left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than Nova Iguaçu MZFC.