Challenge

Stade Versannat
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Arso Rangachev made the kick off which started today's match. When Gijsbert ter Kruimer came up free with the goalie in the 2nd minute, the Netherlands fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Gijsbert ter Kruimer couldn't finish the play. In the 6th minute, Gijsbert ter Kruimer ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Bruno Nunes was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. If Gijsbert ter Kruimer had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After a defensive mix-up in Versannat's zone, Wim Wilmes stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Bruno Nunes came out of the goal and Wim Wilmes tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Bruno Nunes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer in the 16th minute of play. Bruno Nunes took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gijsbert ter Kruimer, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Bruno Nunes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wim Wilmes, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. Lars Meesters blasted a shot towards the goal in the 26th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Bruno Nunes having to make a save. Bruno Nunes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Wim Wilmes in the 30th minute of play. Arnout Reekers didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Arso Rangachev went, in the 31st minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt got a good chance for a goal in the 34th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Bruno Nunes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Wim Wilmes in the 36th minute of play. Bruno Nunes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Wim Wilmes, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. Gijsbert ter Kruimer 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. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

In the 58th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bruno Nunes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 64th minute Ivan Käcker 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 68th minute, Netherlands's Gustaaf Groeneveldt dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-2. Arnout Reekers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Herbert Guette in the 71st minute of the match. Arnout Reekers made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ivan Käcker in the 74th minute of play. If Gustaaf Groeneveldt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After having played for 92 minutes, Ivan Käcker managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Versannat's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ivan Käcker was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Versannat's attentive Karma Tarich managed to snatch the ball when Kees Mooiweer made a throw-in in the 94th minute of the game. Karma Tarich hit a great freekick 95 minutes into the match. In the 96th minute Gijsbert ter Kruimer managed to get in a great position but fired away a sharp shot that went outside the goal on the goalie's right hand side. It could just as well have been a goal. When the match was over Netherlands could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Versannat throughout the match.