Challenge

ACR Olimpico
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) AC Roma's Alvaro Sforza started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. 5 minutes into the match, Alvaro Sforza dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Arnout Reekers, 1-0. Alvaro Sforza received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Arnout Reekers tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to AC Roma getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. Gigi Chificeac hit a great ball. Alvaro Sforza might have been able to make a better finish in the 18th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Arnout Reekers. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Alvaro Sforza ran back to his position shaking his head. Arnout Reekers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alvaro Sforza, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. If Alvaro Sforza had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 21st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 21st minute Alvaro Sforza 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. Fabiano Di Rocco could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 26th minute of the match, but Arnout Reekers made a huge save. Cristoforo Brillante showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wim Wilmes in the 28th minute of the match. In the 31st 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. Cristoforo Brillante stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Gijsbert ter Kruimer's shot from short distance in the 31st minute. When Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 31st minute got a chance for a shot 31st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye AC Roma's goalie prevented a goal. 38 minutes into the match, AC Roma's goal looked a bit too open when David Eikelkamp came free, but Cristoforo Brillante reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Alvaro Sforza sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 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.

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. Gijsbert ter Kruimer recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 51st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Fabiano Di Rocco in the 60th minute of the match. 60 minutes into the game, Fabiano Di Rocco cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-0. Arnout Reekers was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The audience thought a goal was coming when Wim Wilmes got free with Cristoforo Brillante in the 68th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After a rather tough play, Netherlands's Kees Mooiweer got a free kick in the 83rd minute. Ferdinando Caponera hit a great freekick 84 minutes into the match. Anıl Akdoruk hit a great freekick 86 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lars Meesters in the 89th minute of play forced AC Roma's goalkeeper Cristoforo Brillante to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. A collision led to Netherlands getting a freekick after 95 minutes play. Kees Mooiweer hit a great ball.