Challenge

BAKU HANTAM ARENA
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Rafael Leão made the kick off which started today's match. 5 minutes into the match, Gustaw Brzonkala had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Arnout Reekers. Netherlands's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gustaw Brzonkala was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 10th minute after Menang Kalah Tawuran's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Gijsbert ter Kruimer took the corner. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rafael Leão, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Menang Kalah Tawuran's zone, David Eikelkamp stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Marius Popa came out of the goal and David Eikelkamp tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Rafael Leão got free with Arnout Reekers in the 16th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Wim Wilmes scored 1-1 in the 17th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Marius Popa, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Marius Popa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bas Tuitert in the 20th minute of the match. In the 21st minute Netherlands were awarded a corner. Gijsbert ter Kruimer went to the cornerflag to take it. After 23 played minutes Netherlands got a freekick which was hit by Mathijn Doctor. After recieving a nice pass, Menang Kalah Tawuran's Gustaw Brzonkala tried to score from far away in the 24th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. In the 28th minute of the match Netherlands got a corner. Menang Kalah Tawuran'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. Menang Kalah Tawuran's Marius Popa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 30th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Netherlands's zone, Rafael Leão stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Arnout Reekers came out of the goal and Rafael Leão tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gustaaf Groeneveldt in the 33rd minute of play forced Menang Kalah Tawuran's goalkeeper Marius Popa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Netherlands's Arnout Reekers proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 34th minute of the match, managed to save Netherlands from getting a goal against them. Gustaaf Groeneveldt recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 36th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wim Wilmes in the 40th minute of play forced Menang Kalah Tawuran's goalkeeper Marius Popa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arnout Reekers made a fantastic save in the 44th minute, when Rafael Leão sent off a good shot on target. With a little luck, Netherlands's Arnout Reekers got control of the ball when Gustaw Brzonkala tried to sneak it across the goal line. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Gijsbert ter Kruimer stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The supporters of Menang Kalah Tawuran booed when Netherlands was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 53 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gustaaf Groeneveldt didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gustaaf Groeneveldt could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 55th minute of the match, but Marius Popa made a huge save. 55 minutes into the match, Gustaaf Groeneveldt dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Marius Popa, 1-2. In the 61st minute, Menang Kalah Tawuran's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Gijsbert ter Kruimer fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Marius Popa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Wim Wilmes in the 63rd minute. Marius Popa made an important save on a dangerous shot by David Eikelkamp in the 66th minute. After a rather tough play, Menang Kalah Tawuran's Abu Gosoc got a free kick in the 70th minute. Markus Arwana hit a great freekick 72 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arvin Sutrisna in the 74th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Marius Popa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Wim Wilmes in the 77th minute. Gustaaf Groeneveldt's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Marius Popa firmly grabbed it by the left post. 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 80th minute. Lars Meesters was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. In the 82nd minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marius Popa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Arvin Sutrisna in the 83rd minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wim Wilmes in the 84th minute of play forced Menang Kalah Tawuran's goalkeeper Marius Popa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With an all-out effort, Netherlands's Marius Popa threw himself towards the right post 85 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Gijsbert ter Kruimer, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Lorenzo James kicked well hit freekick during the 86th minute of the match. Gijsbert ter Kruimer fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marius Popa having to interfere. Netherlands played a much better game than Menang Kalah Tawuran and deserved their victory. The Menang Kalah Tawuran players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.