Challenge

Esenyurt Arena
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Alptuğ Ulusu started the match with the kick off. 6 minutes into the match, Denmark's goalkeeper Keld Paulsen had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Alptuğ Ulusu. After a rather tough play, Esenyurt's Mirza Uludağ got a free kick in the 10th minute. Chris Nygaard fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Batıkan İrem having to interfere. When Faruk Başkur fell near the penalty area in the 17th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Esenyurt's protests and gave Faruk Başkur a yellow card for diving instead. In the 17th match minute, Esenyurt was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Faruk Başkur to maneuver through the defense. Batıkan İrem took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Chris Nygaard, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Melik Olgun in the 26th minute of play forced Denmark's goalkeeper Keld Paulsen to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alptuğ Ulusu in the 27th minute of play forced Denmark's goalkeeper Keld Paulsen to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, Denmark's Keld Paulsen got control of the ball when Alptuğ Ulusu tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 34th minute Chris Nygaard shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Batıkan İrem saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Chris Nygaard in the 38th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Batıkan İrem saved Esenyurt from getting behind. Denmark's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Chris Nygaard in the 42nd minute. A nice corner shot did that Chris Nygaard got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Batıkan İrem quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. After having played for 44 minutes, Bertram Svenningsen managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Denmark's supporters crossed their fingers, but Bertram Svenningsen was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Chris Nygaard sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Chris Nygaard was the one to do the kick off. Alptuğ Ulusu kicked well hit freekick during the 57th minute of the match. Denmark's Bertram Svenningsen got a good chance for a goal in the 62nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Bertram Svenningsen received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 65th minute. Batıkan İrem tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Keld Paulsen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Melik Olgun in the 67th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Denmark's zone, Alptuğ Ulusu stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Keld Paulsen came out of the goal and Alptuğ Ulusu tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Keld Paulsen showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alptuğ Ulusu in the 72nd minute of the match. 78 minutes had been played when some careless play by Esenyurt's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Chris Nygaard was slow to take the kick. During this time Denmark's players had a chance to rest. Chris Nygaard made a great header on Denmark's corner, it was just that Esenyurt's Batıkan İrem managed to reach the ball for a save. Denmark's Keld Paulsen played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mirza Uludağ in the 80th minute of play. In the 80th minute, Mirza Uludağ left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Esenyurt fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. Mirza Uludağ received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 84th minute. Keld Paulsen tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alptuğ Ulusu in the 88th minute of play forced Denmark's goalkeeper Keld Paulsen to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Chris Nygaard fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Batıkan İrem having to interfere. Faruk Başkur hit a great freekick 94 minutes into the match. Batıkan İrem took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Chris Nygaard, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The Esenyurt support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.