Challenge

Netherlands Arena
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. With a little luck, FC Slovan Liberec's Nicolas Prokš got control of the ball when Gustaaf Groeneveldt tried to sneak it across the goal line. Nicolas Prokš 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. Nicolas Prokš made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 7th minute. Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent away a hard shot on goal in the 10th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 12 played minutes FC Slovan Liberec got a freekick which was hit by Martin Trunda. In the 15th minute of the match Tomáš Bydžovský shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Arnout Reekers showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Zdeněk Stoklasa in the 18th minute of the match. 22 minutes into the match, FC Slovan Liberec's goal looked a bit too open when Wim Wilmes came free, but Nicolas Prokš reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Nicolas Prokš made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 25th minute. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Tomáš Bydžovský in the 27th minute of play. Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer got a good chance for a goal in the 33rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 34 minutes into the match, FC Slovan Liberec's goal looked a bit too open when Gijsbert ter Kruimer came free, but Nicolas Prokš reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Nicolas Prokš tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gustaaf Groeneveldt got free with Nicolas Prokš in the 38th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 45 minutes into the game, Gijsbert ter Kruimer cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Nicolas Prokš was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. FC Slovan Liberec's Nicolas Prokš proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 48th minute of the match, managed to save FC Slovan Liberec from getting a goal against them. In the 48th minute, Zdeněk Stoklasa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in FC Slovan Liberec's zone, Gijsbert ter Kruimer stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Nicolas Prokš 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. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

The wind increased when Zdeněk Stoklasa made the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt 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. Arnout Reekers was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Zdeněk Stoklasa showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-1 in the 54 minute of play. Gustaaf Groeneveldt recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 56th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 58 minutes into the match, Wim Wilmes notched a goal, 2-1, to the right of FC Slovan Liberec's Nicolas Prokš. Nicolas Prokš was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. FC Slovan Liberec's Nicolas Prokš played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 62nd minute of play. Arnout Reekers made a fantastic save in the 63rd minute, when Tomáš Bydžovský sent off a good shot on target. In the 65th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nicolas Prokš saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nicolas Prokš made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Wim Wilmes in the 67th minute of play. In the 69th minute Zdeněk Stoklasa 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. Gustaaf Groeneveldt fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nicolas Prokš having to interfere. In the 85th minute Wim Wilmes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nicolas Prokš saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lars Meesters in the 86th minute of play forced FC Slovan Liberec's goalkeeper Nicolas Prokš to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some careless play in the Netherlands defense, Zdeněk Stoklasa kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Arnout Reekers. The Netherlands fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Arnout Reekers should have stopped the shot. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from František Jíra in the 90th minute of the match. In the 92nd minute Gustaaf Groeneveldt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nicolas Prokš saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Gustaaf Groeneveldt took the ball and in the 92 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Nicolas Prokš. Nicolas Prokš dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-2. There was no doubt that Netherlands were the better team. Netherlands's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.