Challenge

Netherlands Arena
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Gijsbert ter Kruimer made the kick off which started today's match. In the 7th minute of the match, Gustaaf Groeneveldt got a very nice opportunity to score, but Iurie Chiriacescu was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. David Eikelkamp lost his temper 12 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. After 11 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Netherlands! Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Flavius Pârâianu in the 15th minute of play. In the 16th minute Emil Văcărescu 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. Arnout Reekers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Emil Văcărescu, who was totally free with the ball in the 22nd minute. In the 22ndth minute of the game Emil Văcărescu who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Netherlands's Arnout Reekers was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After a defensive mix-up in AC MiLaN's zone, Wim Wilmes stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Iurie Chiriacescu came out of the goal and Wim Wilmes tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Emil Văcărescu in the 27th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 34 minutes into the match, Wim Wilmes dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Iurie Chiriacescu, 1-0. Gustaaf Groeneveldt could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 37th minute of the match, but Iurie Chiriacescu made a huge save. In the 37th minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Iurie Chiriacescu. The goal made the score 2-0. Wim Wilmes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 43rd minute. Iurie Chiriacescu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. 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. Flavius Pârâianu was the one to do the kick off. If Gustaaf Groeneveldt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Iurie Chiriacescu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. AC MiLaN were awarded a corner in the 59th minute after Netherlands's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Filip Vlaicu took the corner. AC MiLaN's Filip Vlaicu was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Arnout Reekers in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. AC MiLaN's Filip Vlaicu was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Arnout Reekers in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Iurie Chiriacescu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 63rd minute of the match. Aurelian Acalinei recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 68th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Fausto Puja hit a great freekick 73 minutes into the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Emil Văcărescu got free with Arnout Reekers in the 78th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Flavius Pârâianu in the 81st minute of play. Iurie Chiriacescu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 84th minute of the match. When Gijsbert ter Kruimer came up free with the goalie in the 88th 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. AC MiLaN's Basarab Avram was substituted for Emil Văcărescu. Lars Meesters's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Iurie Chiriacescu read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 94th minute of play. AC MiLaN's Nae Ionescu got a good chance for a goal in the 95th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. For all the effort they put into the match, the AC MiLaN players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Netherlands.