Challenge

CARLITOS BIANCHI
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, 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. Ulises Manex started the match with the kick off. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Celestino Fix in the 3rd minute of play. In the 6th minute, Wim Wilmes ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Rodolfo Bertassi was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. With his leg Arnout Reekers managed to avoid a goal in the 10thth minute, when El ABUELO FC's Ulises Manex fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 18 minutes into the match, El ABUELO FC's goal looked a bit too open when Lars Meesters came free, but Rodolfo Bertassi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 21st minute, Gijsbert ter Kruimer left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Netherlands fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-2. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Celestino Fix, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Rodolfo Bertassi 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. El ABUELO FC's Isidoro Azevedo was substituted for Remus Bălășoiu. 34 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Rodolfo Bertassi narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Rodolfo Bertassi showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wim Wilmes in the 40th minute of the match. The crowd rose to their feet as El ABUELO FC's Federico Valverde slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Arnout Reekers. That made the score 1-2 after 41 minutes of play. Rodolfo Bertassi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wim Wilmes in the 47th minute of play forced El ABUELO FC's goalkeeper Rodolfo Bertassi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Gijsbert ter Kruimer made the kick off in the second half. Gustaaf Groeneveldt received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 52nd minute. Rodolfo Bertassi tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 54 minutes of play, El ABUELO FC's Ulises Manex made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Arnout Reekers was left in no man's land by his defense there! Rodolfo Bertassi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 58th minute of play. When Laurence Peacock fell near the penalty area in the 59th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored El ABUELO FC's protests and gave Laurence Peacock a yellow card for diving instead. In the 60th match minute, El ABUELO FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Laurence Peacock to maneuver through the defense. In the 63rd minute Isidoro Azevedo 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. When the match clock showed 63 minutes, the score became 3-2 when Ulises Manex sped through Netherlands's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Arnout Reekers. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Isidoro Azevedo in the 67th 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. After a rather tough play, El ABUELO FC's Ildefonso Gonzo got a free kick in the 71st minute. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Federico Valverde in the 77th minute of play. Rodolfo Bertassi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Wim Wilmes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Lucho Cal kicked well hit freekick during the 83rd minute of the match. The supporters of Netherlands booed when El ABUELO FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 84 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lucho Cal didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 90th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rodolfo Bertassi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rodolfo Bertassi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Wim Wilmes in the 94th minute of play. For all the effort they put into the match, the Netherlands players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for El ABUELO FC.