Challenge

Azadi Stadium
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Gijsbert ter Kruimer kicked off to start the match. After 2 played minutes Netherlands got a freekick which was hit by Lars Meesters. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Warner Anaya in the 9th minute of play. Santos Perez 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. Bas Tuitert fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Santos Perez having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Persepolis F.C.'s zone, Gijsbert ter Kruimer stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Santos Perez came out of the goal and Gijsbert ter Kruimer tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Santos Perez showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 18th minute of the match. 23 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Avery Merrill. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lars Meesters in the 34th minute of play forced Persepolis F.C.'s goalkeeper Santos Perez to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Warner Anaya's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 36thth minute, Arnout Reekers skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 37th minute, Wim Wilmes got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After 39 minutes of play, Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Santos Perez was left in no man's land by his defense there! An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 43rd minute of play forced Persepolis F.C.'s goalkeeper Santos Perez to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Santos Perez showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wim Wilmes in the 47th minute of the match.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Warner Anaya made a kick off. In the 56th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Santos Perez saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 71st minute of the match Netherlands got a corner. Persepolis F.C.'s goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Gijsbert ter Kruimer ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Persepolis F.C.'s goalie and right to Wim Wilmes. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Persepolis F.C.'s manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Persepolis F.C.'s Santos Perez proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 73rd minute of the match, managed to save Persepolis F.C. from getting a goal against them. After 74 minutes Persepolis F.C.'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. Egbert Nijveldt charged in rather forcefully in the 77th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Egbert Nijveldt the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 77th minute, Egbert Nijveldt hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Dominic Delgado, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 83 minutes into the game, Abraham Dutton cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-2. Arnout Reekers was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 87th minute Lars Meesters shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Santos Perez saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Santos Perez came out of the goal in the 87th minute to try and stop a shot by Netherlands's Lars Meesters. But to his dismay, Lars Meesters quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-3. Persepolis F.C.'s Léopold Castro was substituted for Warner Anaya. A collision led to Netherlands getting a freekick after 91 minutes play. Egbert Nijveldt hit a great ball. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Arden Poulin in the 94th minute of play. In the 96th minute Léopold Castro 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. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Netherlands players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.