Challenge

Animal Arena
Spectators: 43 (Terracing: 33, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Andy Hendrickx got the match started through his kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 5th minute, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Illescas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Eddy Huijgens breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 10th minute the ball was on its way in behind Venezuela's goalkeeper Jonathan Ferrant, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Venezuela's Alex Chicote got a free kick in the 12th minute. Tjorven Caspers recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 12th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Eddy Huijgens showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomas Illescas in the 17th minute of the match. Andy Hendrickx who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 20thth minute tested the skills of Jonathan Ferrant when he managed to save the team from getting behind. If Tomas Illescas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 25th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Guillermo Mariano charged in rather forcefully in the 26th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Guillermo Mariano the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 26 played minutes Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Guillermo Mariano. Antonio Cempeners sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 33rd match minute, Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tomas Illescas to maneuver through the defense. In the 36th minute, Antonio Cempeners 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 41st minute, Tomas Illescas 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. 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Tomas Illescas to make the kick off. When Tomas Illescas came up free with the goalie in the 51st minute, the Venezuela 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 Tomas Illescas couldn't finish the play. In the 53rd minute Antonio Cempeners shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jonathan Ferrant saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 54th minute, Tomas Illescas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Venezuela's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomas Illescas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Eddy Huijgens breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 56 minutes into the match, Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Antonio Cempeners came free, but Jonathan Ferrant reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Alex Chicote's late challenge caught a Blue Beast's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Alex Chicote helped the player get up and apologised. Alex Chicote hit a great freekick 66 minutes into the match. The supporters of Venezuela booed when Blue Beast was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 68 match minutes in a wonderful position. Finlay Scholes didn't get a good kick on the ball. 70 minutes into the game, Antonio Cempeners cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Jonathan Ferrant was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. A collision led to Venezuela getting a freekick after 75 minutes play. Guillermo Mariano hit a great ball. Eddy Huijgens took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tomas Illescas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 81 minutes Venezuela's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Tjorven Caspers who took care of the corner kick. Blue Beast's Tjorven Caspers was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Jonathan Ferrant in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. With a little luck, Blue Beast's Eddy Huijgens got control of the ball when Tomas Illescas tried to sneak it across the goal line. Jonathan Ferrant took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Antonio Cempeners, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 95 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Venezuela! Antonio Cempeners shot the penalty kick right outside the post. In the 97th minute, Andy Hendrickx ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Jonathan Ferrant was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-0.