U23 World League

Chinαr
Spectators: 7534 (Terracing: 5652, Seating: 1732, VIP seats: 150) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Roger Flor took the kick off in the first half of the match. Gerrit Ebbinge took the ball and in the 3 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised David Ferran. David Ferran dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Gerben Raatjes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Roger Flor, who was totally free with the ball in the 11th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 12th minute, Gerrit Ebbinge managed to get in a good position for a shot. De Kasteelheren's supporters rose to their feet, but Gerrit Ebbinge was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. David Ferran breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 20th minute, Adriaan Bulder hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 23rd minute Fotis Venizelos shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gerben Raatjes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Gerben Raatjes took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Roger Flor, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nathan Wermans blasted a shot towards the goal in the 32nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without David Ferran having to make a save. After a rather tough play, De Kasteelheren's Teun Otten got a free kick in the 34th minute. 38 minutes into the match, PicksBattle.com's goal looked a bit too open when Remond Zijden came free, but David Ferran reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Gerrit Ebbinge sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Nasos Stratikis was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 41 minutes into the match. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 41st minute of the game. One of PicksBattle.com:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of De Kasteelheren:s goal. Arif Ensar İsmet walked up to take care of the penalty kick. He was aiming for the top corner, but the ball went just outside the post.

The wind increased when Gerrit Ebbinge made the kick off in the second half. With a little luck, PicksBattle.com's David Ferran got control of the ball when Gerrit Ebbinge tried to sneak it across the goal line. The supporters of PicksBattle.com booed when De Kasteelheren was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Henk Hoebe didn't get a good kick on the ball. Fotis Venizelos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 61 minutes into the match, De Kasteelheren's goal looked a bit too open when Iordanis Papaioannou came free, but Gerben Raatjes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. David Ferran showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Remond Zijden, who was totally free with the ball in the 64th minute. After 65 played minutes PicksBattle.com got a freekick which was hit by Efthimis Giotopoulos. The supporters of PicksBattle.com booed when De Kasteelheren was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 67 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gerrit Ebbinge didn't get a good kick on the ball. Nathan Wermans might have been able to make a better finish in the 71st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over David Ferran. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Nathan Wermans ran back to his position shaking his head. A collision led to De Kasteelheren getting a freekick after 72 minutes play. Adriaan Bulder hit a great ball. After 75 minutes De Kasteelheren's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Antonis Karteris who took care of the corner kick. The corner led to PicksBattle.com's Jurand Wykowski getting away a dangerous shot that went just outside the goal. Werner Weken hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. Fotis Venizelos received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 78th minute. Gerben Raatjes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With an all-out effort, De Kasteelheren's David Ferran threw himself towards the right post 81 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Remond Zijden, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. After 87 played minutes De Kasteelheren got a freekick which was hit by Teun Otten. After a rather tough play, De Kasteelheren's Iwo Fafinski got a free kick in the 95th minute. In the 96th minute of the match Antonis Karteris sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Gerben Raatjes skillfully saved the ball. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched De Kasteelheren eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.