Challenge

Ireta Stadium
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ludvig Hedling started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd minute, Llorienzo Segura hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Zeledon Arribas didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer went, in the 6th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zbyszek Frenzel, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 15 minutes, Ludvig Hedling mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Zestoa FT and the Netherlands players grew even worse after the yellow card. Ludvig Hedling kicked well hit freekick during the 15th minute of the match. 17 minutes into the match, Zestoa FT's goal looked a bit too open when Wim Wilmes came free, but Zeledon Arribas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 18th minute Netherlands were awarded a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer went to the cornerflag to take it. A very nice done corner allowed Lars Meesters to score against Zeledon Arribas in Zestoa FT's goal. 0-2 after 19 minutes. The supporters of Netherlands booed when Zestoa FT was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Llorienzo Segura didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 31 minutes of play, Zestoa FT's Zbyszek Frenzel made it 1-4 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! An unexpectedly hard shot by Zbyszek Frenzel in the 35th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Zeledon Arribas showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 36th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 39th minute of play forced Zestoa FT's goalkeeper Zeledon Arribas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Santxo Campoamor received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 40th minute. Arnout Reekers tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gijsbert ter Kruimer charged in rather forcefully in the 42nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Gijsbert ter Kruimer the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 42nd minute, Gijsbert ter Kruimer hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-4 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

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. 51 minutes into the match, Zestoa FT's goalkeeper Zeledon Arribas had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt. In the 52nd match minute, Zestoa FT was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sixto Cardeñosa to maneuver through the defense. In the 53rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Zestoa FT's goalkeeper Zeledon Arribas, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Zestoa FT's Sixto Cardeñosa got a free kick in the 53rd minute. Wim Wilmes could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 56th minute of the match, but Zeledon Arribas made a huge save. Zeledon Arribas made an important save on a dangerous shot by Wim Wilmes in the 60th minute. If Lars Meesters had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Zeledon Arribas took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Wim Wilmes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 64 minutes into the match, Zestoa FT's goal looked a bit too open when Wim Wilmes came free, but Zeledon Arribas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wim Wilmes in the 65th minute of play forced Zestoa FT's goalkeeper Zeledon Arribas to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 66 minutes had been played when some careless play by Zestoa FT'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. Netherlands's David Eikelkamp was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Zeledon Arribas in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Wim Wilmes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Zeledon Arribas tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gijsbert ter Kruimer kicked well hit freekick during the 71st minute of the match. Sixto Cardeñosa 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. After a rather tough play, Netherlands's David Eikelkamp got a free kick in the 77th minute. Zeledon Arribas made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 81st minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gustaaf Groeneveldt got free with Zeledon Arribas in the 85th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Gijsbert ter Kruimer struck a weak shot in the 89th minute. Zeledon Arribas didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Netherlands. In the 91st minute Santxo Campoamor 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. After having played for 92 minutes, Gijsbert ter Kruimer managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Netherlands's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gijsbert ter Kruimer was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right 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 Slawomir Brysz in the 94th minute of play. A collision led to Zestoa FT getting a freekick after 95 minutes play. Llorienzo Segura hit a great ball. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Netherlands walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.