Challenge

ACR Olimpico
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Alvaro Sforza made the kick off and thus started the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alvaro Sforza in the 8th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Armin Ascenzi kicked well hit freekick during the 9th minute of the match. In the 11th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristoforo Brillante saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 12 minutes had been played when some careless play by AC Roma's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer was slow to take the kick. During this time Netherlands's players had a chance to rest. Gustaaf Groeneveldt struck a weak shot in the 13th minute. Cristoforo Brillante didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Netherlands. 13 minutes into the match, AC Roma's goal looked a bit too open when Gustaaf Groeneveldt came free, but Cristoforo Brillante reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Cristoforo Brillante showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wim Wilmes in the 16th minute of the match. Cristoforo Brillante made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 18th minute of play. A collision led to Netherlands getting a freekick after 21 minutes play. Kees Mooiweer hit a great ball. Cristoforo Brillante showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lars Meesters in the 28th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fabiano Di Rocco in the 32nd minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Javier Della Francesca fell near the penalty area in the 33rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored AC Roma's protests and gave Javier Della Francesca a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, AC Roma's Javier Della Francesca got a free kick in the 33rd minute. In the 39th minute, AC Roma's Fabiano Di Rocco dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

AC Roma's Cristoforo Brillante played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 55th minute of play. Alvaro Sforza scored 2-0 in the 57th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Arnout Reekers, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. After a rather tough play, Netherlands's Kees Mooiweer got a free kick in the 59th minute. The audience was convinced that Fabiano Di Rocco's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Arnout Reekers was relentless in the 63rd minute of the game. Arnout Reekers stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Fabiano Di Rocco's shot from short distance in the 63rd minute. After a rather tough play, Netherlands's Kees Mooiweer got a free kick in the 86th minute. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alvaro Sforza, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ferdinando Caponera hit a great freekick 89 minutes into the match. AC Roma's Cristoforo Brillante proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 90th minute of the match, managed to save AC Roma from getting a goal against them. In the 91st minute Fabiano Di Rocco 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. In the 94th minute, Fabiano Di Rocco 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. The AC Roma support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.