Challenge

gaby milito
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) In the 2nd minute, Florentino Inge hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 3 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Pepe Santoro narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 11th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pepe Santoro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 19th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pepe Santoro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Pepe Santoro showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. Wim Wilmes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Albano Bertol in the 26th minute of play. Pepe Santoro came out of the goal in the 27th minute to try and stop a shot by Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt. But to his dismay, Gustaaf Groeneveldt quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. In the 30th minute Isidoro Beltran 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Isidoro Beltran in the 32nd minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arnout Reekers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Albano Bertol, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. Netherlands's Lars Meesters got a good chance for a goal in the 48th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After the first half Netherlands were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Isidoro Beltran to strike the kick off in the second half. The attack was good, but when Isidoro Beltran in the 52nd minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gustaaf Groeneveldt got free with Pepe Santoro in the 56th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The nice shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 57thth minute just in front of the goal should have ended in point on the board, but Pepe Santoro had a great feel for the game and superbly saved the ball from getting in by the left post. Gustaaf Groeneveldt struck a weak shot in the 63rd minute. Pepe Santoro didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Netherlands. Gustaaf Groeneveldt came free with the goalkeeper in the 68th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Pepe Santoro could save by the left post. After a defensive mix-up in Independiente's zone, Gustaaf Groeneveldt stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Pepe Santoro 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wim Wilmes in the 77th minute of play forced Independiente's goalkeeper Pepe Santoro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 77 minutes into the match, Independiente's goal looked a bit too open when Wim Wilmes came free, but Pepe Santoro reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 79 minutes of play, Independiente's Sören Bengtsson made it 1-2 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! Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ximenes Castilla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 86th minute Sören Bengtsson 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. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lars Meesters got free with Pepe Santoro in the 88th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Netherlands's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 89th minute. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Independiente's goalie and right to Lars Meesters. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Independiente's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. 93 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Sören Bengtsson came free, but Arnout Reekers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The Netherlands supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Netherlands would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.