Challenge

Xarilaou OPAP Arena
Spectators: 44 (Terracing: 34, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) Miladin Kirichev started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 2nd minute, Gustaaf Groeneveldt 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. In the 6th minute Viktoras Stathiadis 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. In the 10th minute, Kostas Fasoulis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Gustaaf Groeneveldt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Stathis Kapelis hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. In the 15th minute, Wim Wilmes made a precise shot to the right of Kostas Kourmouzis. Xarilaou FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Kostas Kourmouzis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. Wim Wilmes recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 20th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Xarilaou FC's Kostas Kourmouzis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Wim Wilmes in the 25th minute of play. After having played for 26 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. The supporters of Netherlands booed when Xarilaou FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Themis Efthimidis didn't get a good kick on the ball. A collision led to Xarilaou FC getting a freekick after 39 minutes play. Miladin Kirichev hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Miladin Kirichev in the 42nd minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Henrihs Kazimirs hit a great freekick 46 minutes into the match. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Henrihs Kazimirs during the 52nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 52nd minute, Henrihs Kazimirs hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Gustaaf Groeneveldt received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 53rd minute. Kostas Kourmouzis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 55 played minutes Xarilaou FC got a freekick which was hit by Stathis Kapelis. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fanis Skaltsas in the 58th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arnout Reekers took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kostas Fasoulis, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Gustaaf Groeneveldt's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Kostas Kourmouzis firmly grabbed it by the left post. Xarilaou FC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 69th minute, when Wim Wilmes scored to the left of an out of position Kostas Kourmouzis, making the score, 0-2. 75 minutes into the game, Gijsbert ter Kruimer cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-3. Kostas Kourmouzis was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Gijsbert ter Kruimer's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Kostas Kourmouzis read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 78th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Miladin Kirichev in the 79th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Gustaaf Groeneveldt fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Kostas Kourmouzis having to interfere. In the 84th minute, Kostas Fasoulis hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kostas Fasoulis in the 87th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Arnout Reekers to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arnout Reekers showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kostas Fasoulis, who was totally free with the ball in the 90th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gustaaf Groeneveldt got free with Kostas Kourmouzis in the 93rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Netherlands played a much better game than Xarilaou FC and deserved their victory. The Xarilaou FC players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.