Challenge

Johan Cruyff Arena
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Markos Seremetidis kicked off to start the match. Akis Sarafis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Adria Bielsa in the 4th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Aleksander Petka in the 5th minute of play forced Spain's goalkeeper Gabriel Ascaso to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Akis Sarafis made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Adria Bielsa in the 8th minute of play. Through an outstanding action, after 11 minutes, Gabriel Ascaso successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Akis Sarafis showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Adria Bielsa, who was totally free with the ball in the 17th minute. In the 24th minute Adria Bielsa shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Akis Sarafis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 26 minutes into the game, one of Spain:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. In the 28th match minute, Spain was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jonathan Criado to maneuver through the defense. 32 minutes into the match, Spain's goalkeeper Gabriel Ascaso had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Michelangelo Merganiotis. AFC Ajax's Akis Sarafis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by David Aranda in the 37th minute of play. 40 minutes into the match, AFC Ajax's goal looked a bit too open when Omar Toledo came free, but Akis Sarafis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to AFC Ajax getting a freekick after 42 minutes play. Lambis Zacharatos hit a great ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by German Sarracino during the 43rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. AFC Ajax's Akis Sarafis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jonathan Criado in the 44th minute of play.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Omar Toledo was the one to do the kick off. In the 52nd minute Michelangelo Merganiotis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gabriel Ascaso saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 55th minute, Li Kuan Hong 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. AFC Ajax made a substitution. Thalis Karteris replaced Aleksander Petka. With a little luck, AFC Ajax's Akis Sarafis got control of the ball when Omar Toledo tried to sneak it across the goal line. Spain's Carles Cherro was substituted for Omar Toledo. 74 minutes into the match, AFC Ajax's goal looked a bit too open when Carles Cherro came free, but Akis Sarafis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Spain's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Adria Bielsa in the 75th minute. The corner ended in Adria Bielsa almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but AFC Ajax's Akis Sarafis did a great save. Akis Sarafis made an important save on a dangerous shot by Carles Cherro in the 78th minute. Gabriel Ascaso didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Alexandros Sardanis went, in the 79th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-2 was the resulting score. Spain made a substitution. Sergio Ruiz replaced Adria Bielsa. Pau Herrero kicked well hit freekick during the 86th minute of the match. Akis Sarafis made a fantastic save in the 90th minute, when Carles Cherro sent off a good shot on target. 96 minutes into the game, Pau Herrero cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-3. Akis Sarafis was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The AFC Ajax fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Spain were clearly better and deserved to take the win.