Challenge

Netherlands Arena
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 3rd minute, Venancio Ascencio hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Wim Wilmes could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 4th minute of the match, but Vito Rezende made a huge save. After 5 played minutes Liberland got a freekick which was hit by Venancio Ascencio. Gustaaf Groeneveldt recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 6th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Vito Rezende took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lars Meesters, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 10 minutes Liberland's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Gijsbert ter Kruimer who took care of the corner kick. A nice corner shot did that Gustaaf Groeneveldt got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Vito Rezende quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. In the 12th minute, Liberland's Melchor Marques seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Melchor Marques the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Liberland protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Melchor Marques had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 12th minute of the game. One of Liberland:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Netherlands:s goal. Liberland:s Vito Rezende showed great skill when he stopped Gijsbert ter Kruimer:s penalty. 20 minutes into the match, Liberland's goal looked a bit too open when Gijsbert ter Kruimer came free, but Vito Rezende reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 21 played minutes Netherlands got a freekick which was hit by Bas Tuitert. Jacinto Rosio fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 22nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Arnout Reekers having to interfere. With a little luck, Liberland's Vito Rezende got control of the ball when Gustaaf Groeneveldt tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Netherlands's Lars Meesters in the 32nd minute got a chance for a shot 32nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Liberland's goalie prevented a goal. Vito Rezende made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 35th minute. Jacinto Rosio fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 39th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Arnout Reekers having to interfere. Vito Rezende made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Wim Wilmes in the 42nd minute of play. In the 43rd minute Jacinto Rosio 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 recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 46th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The wind increased when Jacinto Rosio made the kick off in the second half. Liberland's Vito Rezende played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by David Eikelkamp in the 50th minute of play. Gijsbert ter Kruimer made a great header on Netherlands's corner, it was just that Liberland's Vito Rezende managed to reach the ball for a save. Vito Rezende came out of the goal in the 55th minute to try and stop a shot by Netherlands's Wim Wilmes. But to his dismay, Wim Wilmes quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-0. After 60 minutes of play, Netherlands's David Eikelkamp made it 3-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Vito Rezende was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 67th minute Gustaaf Groeneveldt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vito Rezende saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to Liberland getting a freekick after 72 minutes play. Aurelio Napier hit a great ball. Vito Rezende took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Wim Wilmes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 83 minutes into the match, Liberland's goal looked a bit too open when Gijsbert ter Kruimer came free, but Vito Rezende reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Gustaaf Groeneveldt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 84th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 87 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by David Eikelkamp in the 88th minute of play forced Liberland's goalkeeper Vito Rezende to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Vito Rezende made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from David Eikelkamp in the 92nd minute of play. When the referee ended the match the Netherlands players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.