Challenge

San Nicolò Arena
Spectators: 41 (Terracing: 32, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Davide Bertolini took the kick off in the first half of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 6th minute, Ernesto Tagliente managed to get in a good position for a shot. San Nicolò Kings's supporters rose to their feet, but Ernesto Tagliente was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Arnout Reekers breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Wim Wilmes's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Franco Catucci read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 8th minute of play. After 13 played minutes San Nicolò Kings got a freekick which was hit by Ernesto Tagliente. Franco Catucci showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wim Wilmes, who was totally free with the ball in the 15th minute. In the 15th minute, David Eikelkamp hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Netherlands's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 21st minute. After taking down the ball on Netherlands's corner Gijsbert ter Kruimer fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Franco Catucci quite easily take care of the ball. Franco Catucci showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. If Wim Wilmes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 24th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Franco Catucci 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. If Nedo Nadi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Wim Wilmes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 29th minute. Franco Catucci tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Franco Catucci 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. After 35 played minutes Netherlands got a freekick which was hit by Gust Ennemans. Gustaaf Groeneveldt blasted a shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Franco Catucci having to make a save. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 40th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Franco Catucci prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 42nd minute of the match, Nedo Nadi got a very nice opportunity to score, but Arnout Reekers was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The supporters of Netherlands booed when San Nicolò Kings was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 51 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alessandro Baston didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Gijsbert ter Kruimer came up free with the goalie in the 53rd 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. In the 58th minute Davide Bertolini 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 61st minute of the match Netherlands got a corner. San Nicolò Kings's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Gijsbert ter Kruimer ran over to the corner to take the kick. A collision led to San Nicolò Kings getting a freekick after 62 minutes play. Alessandro Baston hit a great ball. San Nicolò Kings's Franco Catucci proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 65th minute of the match, managed to save San Nicolò Kings from getting a goal against them. 67 minutes into the match, San Nicolò Kings's goal looked a bit too open when Gijsbert ter Kruimer came free, but Franco Catucci reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Franco Catucci made a fantastic save in the 69th minute, when Gustaaf Groeneveldt sent off a good shot on target. In the 75th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Franco Catucci saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Gustaaf Groeneveldt could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 76th minute of the match, but Franco Catucci made a huge save. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nedo Nadi in the 79th minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Alessandro Baston during the 80th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 80th match minute, San Nicolò Kings was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alessandro Baston to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to San Nicolò Kings getting a freekick after 81 minutes play. Alessandro Baston hit a great ball. Franco Catucci didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Wim Wilmes went, in the 83rd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Nedo Nadi in the 95th 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 the final whistle sounded Netherlands left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than San Nicolò Kings.