Challenge

Mineirão
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's Duarte Félix 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. In the 2nd match minute, Netherlands was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gust Ennemans to maneuver through the defense. In the 3rd minute, Enrique de Mendonça hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 9th minute Gustaaf Groeneveldt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Arthur Bufi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 12th minute, Wim Wilmes 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. After having played for 13 minutes, Wim Wilmes managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Netherlands's supporters crossed their fingers, but Wim Wilmes was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Arthur Bufi 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. In the 20th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Arthur Bufi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 21 minutes into the match, Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Arthur Bufi narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 22nd minute of the match Netherlands got a corner. Cruzeiro Esporte Clube'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. 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 25th minute. Brock Friend kicked well hit freekick during the 27th minute of the match. Gustaaf Groeneveldt struck a weak shot in the 28th minute. Arthur Bufi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Netherlands. After a defensive mix-up in Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's zone, Gijsbert ter Kruimer stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Arthur Bufi came out of the goal and Gijsbert ter Kruimer tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 31st minute, Brock Friend made a precise shot to the right of Arnout Reekers. Netherlands's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. A collision led to Cruzeiro Esporte Clube getting a freekick after 36 minutes play. Brock Friend hit a great ball. Gustaaf Groeneveldt fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Arthur Bufi having to interfere. 43 minutes into the game, Brock Friend 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Gijsbert ter Kruimer to make the kick off. In the 51st minute, Wim Wilmes 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. Duarte Félix charged in rather forcefully in the 58th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Duarte Félix the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 58 played minutes Cruzeiro Esporte Clube got a freekick which was hit by Duarte Félix. In the 65th minute of the match, Gijsbert ter Kruimer tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Arthur Bufi saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. In the 69th match minute, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Oswaldo Maranhense to maneuver through the defense. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ye Hong Shi during the 70th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 71 played minutes Cruzeiro Esporte Clube got a freekick which was hit by Ye Hong Shi. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lars Meesters in the 72nd minute of play forced Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's goalkeeper Arthur Bufi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 75 minutes into the match, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's goalkeeper Arthur Bufi had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Wim Wilmes. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Brock Friend in the 77th minute of play. The supporters of Cruzeiro Esporte Clube booed when Netherlands was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 78 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gustaaf Groeneveldt didn't get a good kick on the ball. Arnout Reekers stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Brock Friend's shot from short distance in the 79th minute. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 85th minute after Cruzeiro Esporte Clube's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. At last the ball reached David Eikelkamp at the corner, ending with a kick to difficult to stop for the goalkeeper of Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. 2-1. Wim Wilmes recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 88th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Gijsbert ter Kruimer fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Arthur Bufi having to interfere. Olavo Quadros kicked well hit freekick during the 94th minute of the match. The home crowd let out a huge roar when the referee blew for the end of the game. Cruzeiro Esporte Clube were victorious despite being under pressure from Netherlands for much of the match.