Challenge

San Siro
Spectators: 42 (Terracing: 32, 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. A collision led to A.C. Milan getting a freekick after 2 minutes play. Aurelio Mederi hit a great ball. Costin Giugiuc made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 6th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Emil Gheară got free with Arnout Reekers in the 8th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Arnout Reekers came out of the goal in the 9th minute to try and stop a shot by A.C. Milan's Emil Gheară. But to his dismay, Emil Gheară quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. 13 minutes into the match, Aurelio Mederi dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Arnout Reekers, 2-0. In the 24th minute, Costică Chiriloaie ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Arnout Reekers was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-0. Costin Giugiuc 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 31st minute John Lovera 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. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling John Lovera in the 31st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Arnout Reekers prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When Gustaaf Groeneveldt came up free with the goalie in the 32nd minute, the Netherlands fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Gustaaf Groeneveldt couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Costică Chiriloaie in the 34th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Costin Giugiuc took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some careless play in the A.C. Milan defense, Wim Wilmes kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Costin Giugiuc. The A.C. Milan fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Costin Giugiuc should have stopped the shot. When Gijsbert ter Kruimer came up free with the goalie in the 45th minute, the Netherlands fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Gijsbert ter Kruimer couldn't finish the play. If Wim Wilmes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 47th minute, Egbert Nijveldt hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Af the end of the first half the score was 3-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Aurelio Mederi made a kick off. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from John Lovera, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 61 minutes into the match, A.C. Milan's goalkeeper Costin Giugiuc had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt. 64 minutes into the match, A.C. Milan's goal looked a bit too open when Lars Meesters came free, but Costin Giugiuc reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With 66 minutes on the clock, Mathijn Doctor commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. Costin Giugiuc was a little too slow when Gustaaf Groeneveldt got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 69th minute. The score was now 3-2. 72 minutes into the match, A.C. Milan's goalkeeper Costin Giugiuc had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt. Costin Giugiuc was out of position in the 72 minute of play, and Gustaaf Groeneveldt capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Gustaaf Groeneveldt really showed his touch with that goal: 3-3. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Costică Chiriloaie in the 77th minute of play. Gustaaf Groeneveldt who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 80thth minute tested the skills of Costin Giugiuc when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Remus Pinatel took the ball and in the 84 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Arnout Reekers. Arnout Reekers dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 4-4. After a defensive mix-up in Netherlands's zone, Aurelio Mederi stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Arnout Reekers came out of the goal and Aurelio Mederi tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 99 minutes into the match, A.C. Milan's goalkeeper Costin Giugiuc had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.