Challenge

Λάκκος των Λεόντων
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Juan Pablo Fuentes kicked off to start the match. SAPSALOMADA FC's Nikos Nikolaou played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 3rd minute of play. In the 5th minute, Gijsbert ter Kruimer 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. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Juan Pablo Fuentes in the 7th minute of play. Lars Meesters kicked well hit freekick during the 11th minute of the match. 14 minutes into the match, Gustaaf Groeneveldt had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Nikos Nikolaou. SAPSALOMADA FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gustaaf Groeneveldt was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Nikos Nikolaou 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 17th minute. 23 minutes into the game, SAPSALOMADA FC's Juan Pablo Fuentes nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Arnout Reekers made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. 26 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Florian Wydrych came free, but Arnout Reekers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 27 minutes into the match, SAPSALOMADA FC's goal looked a bit too open when Gustaaf Groeneveldt came free, but Nikos Nikolaou reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 28 played minutes SAPSALOMADA FC got a freekick which was hit by Grzegorz Rostow. After 29 played minutes, Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Nikos Nikolaou came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Netherlands reached it. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Juan Pablo Fuentes in the 31st minute of the match. 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 33rd minute. Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Nikos Nikolaou in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Gijsbert ter Kruimer made a great header on Netherlands's corner, it was just that SAPSALOMADA FC's Nikos Nikolaou managed to reach the ball for a save. 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. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Gijsbert ter Kruimer was the one to do the kick off. Gustaaf Groeneveldt recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 52nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 54th minute the ball was on its way in behind SAPSALOMADA FC's goalkeeper Nikos Nikolaou, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 57th minute of the match Netherlands got a corner. SAPSALOMADA FC'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. 60 minutes into the match, SAPSALOMADA FC's goalkeeper Nikos Nikolaou had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt. Eleftherios Poulis blasted a shot towards the goal in the 64th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Arnout Reekers having to make a save. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Giorgos Ioannou, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Eleftherios Poulis in the 86th 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. With a little luck, SAPSALOMADA FC's Nikos Nikolaou got control of the ball when Gustaaf Groeneveldt tried to sneak it across the goal line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 91st minute. Nikos Nikolaou tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Juan Pablo Fuentes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.