Challenge

San Jacopino Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) After 13 minutes of play, Atletico San Jacopino's Sergio Sandalio made it 1-0 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! Gustaaf Groeneveldt sent away a hard shot on goal in the 16th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Gustaaf Groeneveldt's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Aurelio Di Luca read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 16th minute of play. 18 minutes had been played when some careless play by Atletico San Jacopino's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer was slow to take the kick. During this time Netherlands's players had a chance to rest. Aurelio Di Luca came out of the goal in the 19th minute to try and stop a shot by Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt. But to his dismay, Gustaaf Groeneveldt quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. If Fedele Marzo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a little luck, Netherlands's Arnout Reekers got control of the ball when Er Didia tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a rather tough play, Netherlands's Gijsbert ter Kruimer got a free kick in the 29th minute. Aurelio Di Luca showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 32nd minute of the match. After some careless play in the Atletico San Jacopino defense, Gustaaf Groeneveldt kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Aurelio Di Luca. The Atletico San Jacopino fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Aurelio Di Luca should have stopped the shot. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 36th minute after Atletico San Jacopino's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. Wim Wilmes scored 1-3 in the 46th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Aurelio Di Luca, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. After the first half Netherlands were leading 1-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Gijsbert ter Kruimer made the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 52nd minute of play forced Atletico San Jacopino's goalkeeper Aurelio Di Luca to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Aurelio Di Luca didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer went, in the 52nd minute, to the upper right corner, 1-4 was the resulting score. Sergio Sandalio kicked well hit freekick during the 59th minute of the match. Everyone was convinced a goal was close when Netherlands's Lars Meesters in the 68th minute lifted the ball towards the upper right corner, but Aurelio Di Luca was perfectly placed and prevented a goal for Atletico San Jacopino through an amazing save. Er Didia hit a great freekick 72 minutes into the match. Atletico San Jacopino's Anselmo Moretta was substituted for Fernando Mesquita. Gustaaf Groeneveldt sent away a hard shot on goal in the 76th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Wim Wilmes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 77th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 79th minute, Alessandro Federici made a precise shot to the right of Arnout Reekers. Netherlands's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-4. 81 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Fedele Marzo came free, but Arnout Reekers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 82nd minute of play forced Atletico San Jacopino's goalkeeper Aurelio Di Luca to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Gijsbert ter Kruimer received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 85th minute. Aurelio Di Luca tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Bas Tuitert hit a great freekick 95 minutes into the match. Alessandro Federici took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 96th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Arnout Reekers. Netherlands's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Netherlands had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.