Challenge

Croatia Arena
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) NFC Eagles 22's Ton de Ruijter 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. The crowd rose to their feet as Croatia's Eduard Kostelac slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Dé Baron. That made the score 1-0 after 3 minutes of play. In the 6th match minute, Croatia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Patrik Terzic to maneuver through the defense. In the 9th minute, Damir Pongrac ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Dé Baron was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-0. Dé Baron took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Damir Pongrac, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Martin Bosak in the 15th minute of play forced NFC Eagles 22's goalkeeper Dé Baron to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 16 minutes into the match, NFC Eagles 22's goal looked a bit too open when Toni Mauzer came free, but Dé Baron reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a little luck, NFC Eagles 22's Dé Baron got control of the ball when Neven Culina tried to sneak it across the goal line. 21 minutes into the match, NFC Eagles 22's goal looked a bit too open when Toni Mauzer came free, but Dé Baron reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Toni Mauzer in the 22nd minute of play forced NFC Eagles 22's goalkeeper Dé Baron to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Dé Baron showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Toni Mauzer, who was totally free with the ball in the 24th minute. Neven Culina took the ball and in the 26 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Dé Baron. Dé Baron dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-0. NFC Eagles 22's Dé Baron proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 32nd minute of the match, managed to save NFC Eagles 22 from getting a goal against them. An unexpectedly hard shot by Toni Mauzer in the 34th minute of play forced NFC Eagles 22's goalkeeper Dé Baron to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. NFC Eagles 22 were furious when Karsten Saelman was red carded, 36 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. After 35 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for NFC Eagles 22! The referee gave Croatia a penalty, 37 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Toni Mauzer, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of NFC Eagles 22's Dé Baron. 4-0. A collision led to NFC Eagles 22 getting a freekick after 40 minutes play. Nico-Jan Ihselmann hit a great ball. Dé Baron took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Martin Bosak, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Toni Mauzer got free with Dé Baron in the 43rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 46th minute, Croatia's Toni Mauzer dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 5-0. Af the end of the first half the score was 5-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Toni Mauzer was the one to do the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Toni Mauzer in the 52nd minute of play forced NFC Eagles 22's goalkeeper Dé Baron to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 53rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Croatia's goalkeeper Ilija Skugor, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Dé Baron made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Martin Bosak in the 58th minute of play. 59 minutes into the match, Toni Mauzer notched a goal, 6-0, to the right of NFC Eagles 22's Dé Baron. Dé Baron was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 64 minutes into the game, Damir Pongrac cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 7-0. Dé Baron was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 72nd minute Damir Pongrac shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dé Baron saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. NFC Eagles 22's Hub Schild managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Martin Bosak in the 73 minute of the game. After a rather tough play, NFC Eagles 22's Harry Vrieling got a free kick in the 75th minute. After 77 minutes of play, Croatia's Toni Mauzer made it 8-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Dé Baron was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 79th minute, Damir Pongrac hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Dé Baron showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Neven Culina, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. Dé Baron showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Neven Culina in the 88th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dinko Stankovic in the 90th minute of play forced NFC Eagles 22's goalkeeper Dé Baron to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, NFC Eagles 22's Maurice Spiering got a free kick in the 92nd minute. 95 minutes in the game Silvije Santek did a throw-in, and the ball was quickly in game thanks to Dinko Stankovic. Croatia walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.