Challenge

Netherlands Arena
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, 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. Gijsbert ter Kruimer started the match with the kick off. Northern California's David Schembri proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 3rd minute of the match, managed to save Northern California from getting a goal against them. In the 3rd minute, Netherlands's Wim Wilmes dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. Gijsbert ter Kruimer scored 2-0 in the 5th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of David Schembri, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. David Schembri 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. In the 12th minute, Leandro Chorche made a precise shot to the right of Arnout Reekers. Netherlands's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-1. In the 15th minute, Bernard McFrank hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Leandro Chorche in the 17th minute of play. In the 19thth minute of the game Gijsbert ter Kruimer who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Northern California's David Schembri was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 22nd minute, Gijsbert ter Kruimer 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: 3-1. In the 26th minute, Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind David Schembri. David Schembri yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 4-1. David Schembri stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Gijsbert ter Kruimer's shot from short distance in the 32nd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Serafin Ilazki in the 33rd minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. David Schembri showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 35th minute of the match. After a rather tough play, Netherlands's Wim Wilmes got a free kick in the 36th minute. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fabio Monte, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Serafin Ilazki in the 38th minute of play. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 4-1 at half-time.

The wind increased when Fabio Monte made the kick off in the second half. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Antonio Guillelme in the 52nd minute of play. In the 54th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but David Schembri saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Lars Meesters might have been able to make a better finish in the 56th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over David Schembri. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Lars Meesters ran back to his position shaking his head. Hector Martxel's late challenge caught a Netherlands's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Hector Martxel helped the player get up and apologised. Hector Martxel hit a great freekick 57 minutes into the match. A collision led to Northern California getting a freekick after 58 minutes play. Bernard McFrank hit a great ball. David Schembri made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 63rd minute of play. In the 65th minute Gustaaf Groeneveldt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but David Schembri saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wim Wilmes in the 68th minute of play forced Northern California's goalkeeper David Schembri to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 69th minute, Antonio Guillelme left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Northern California fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 4-2. David Schembri took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Leandro Chorche got free with Arnout Reekers in the 76th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Lars Meesters fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without David Schembri having to interfere. Through an outstanding action, after 83 minutes, Arnout Reekers successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Leandro Chorche who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 90thth minute tested the skills of Arnout Reekers when he managed to save the team from getting behind. 94 minutes into the match, Northern California's goal looked a bit too open when Gustaaf Groeneveldt came free, but David Schembri reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. David Schembri showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 95th minute of the match.