Challenge

Niğde Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Frank Sachs started the match with the kick off. Tommy Kahn stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Laerte Marquez's shot from short distance in the 5th minute. In the 11th minute, Frank Sachs left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Germany fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. A throw-in in the 16th minute of the game was made by Sven Krakouer with Frank Sachs as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. Laerte Marquez blasted a shot towards the goal in the 18th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Tommy Kahn having to make a save. The crowd rose to their feet as Laerte Marquez kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Tommy Kahn. That made the score 1-1 in the 24 minute of play. Tommy Kahn showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Laerte Marquez in the 30th minute of the match. Tommy Kahn was a little too slow when Laerte Marquez got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 31st minute. The score was now 2-1. 35 minutes into the match, Niğdespor's goal looked a bit too open when Frank Sachs came free, but Kasım Okanalp reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Germany's Malte Schiele got a free kick in the 39th minute. In the 40th of the match, Olgun Arabacı tried to place the ball in the upper right corner, but Tommy Kahn got in the way and made a wonderful save. The audience was convinced that Frank Sachs's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Kasım Okanalp was relentless in the 45th minute of the game. Olgun Arabacı sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 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 2-1.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Olgun Arabacı stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. A collision led to Germany getting a freekick after 51 minutes play. Malte Schiele hit a great ball. If Laerte Marquez had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Frank Sachs could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 57th minute of the match, but Kasım Okanalp made a huge save. Olgun Arabacı received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Tommy Kahn tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Niğdespor's Laerte Marquez in the 60th minute got a chance for a shot 60th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Germany's goalie prevented a goal. 63 minutes into the game, Chris Mergenthaler was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Germany's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Niğdespor the free kick. Chris Mergenthaler kicked well hit freekick during the 63rd minute of the match. Chris Mergenthaler got his second yellow card in the match during the 66th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. In the 66th match minute, Germany was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Chris Mergenthaler to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 67th minute, Laerte Marquez managed to get in a good position for a shot. Niğdespor's supporters rose to their feet, but Laerte Marquez was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tommy Kahn breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Germany's Tommy Kahn played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Olgun Arabacı in the 69th minute of play. 71 minutes into the game, Niğdespor's Olgun Arabacı nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Tommy Kahn made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-1. After some fancy dribbling in the 73rd minute, Olgun Arabacı managed to get in a good position for a shot. Niğdespor's supporters rose to their feet, but Olgun Arabacı was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tommy Kahn breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Niğdespor's Laerte Marquez got a good chance for a goal in the 79th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Frank Sachs charged in rather forcefully in the 81st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Frank Sachs the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Germany getting a freekick after 81 minutes play. Frank Sachs hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Laerte Marquez in the 82nd minute of play forced Germany's goalkeeper Tommy Kahn to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Tommy Kahn took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Olgun Arabacı, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 86th minute, Laerte Marquez 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. 89 minutes into the match, Germany's goal looked a bit too open when Laerte Marquez came free, but Tommy Kahn reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Laerte Marquez might have been able to make a better finish in the 90th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Tommy Kahn. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Laerte Marquez ran back to his position shaking his head. Olgun Arabacı sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal.