League

RheinEnergieStadion
Spectators: 8007 (Terracing: 6007, Seating: 1841, VIP seats: 159) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Răzvan Pisculescu started the match with the kick off. 3 minutes into the match, Berliner Bären's goal looked a bit too open when Arnout Henderickx came free, but Viktor Roelants reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Viktor Roelants stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Arnout Henderickx's shot from short distance in the 3rd minute. In the 6th minute, Kasper Pastijns 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. An unexpected shot in the 13th minute by Elias Coveliers got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. 16 minutes into the match, Berliner Bären's Răzvan Pisculescu sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Frederik Van Geel narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After a rather tough play, New York Giants's Arnout Henderickx got a free kick in the 23rd minute. After having played for 25 minutes, Răzvan Pisculescu managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Berliner Bären's supporters crossed their fingers, but Răzvan Pisculescu was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. A hard shot 29 in the game by Răzvan Pisculescu from a close distance when the talented Frederik Van Geel managed to make a qualified save. New York Giants's players were relieved. The audience was convinced that Răzvan Pisculescu's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Frederik Van Geel was relentless in the 31st minute of the game. Elias Coveliers charged in rather forcefully in the 33rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Elias Coveliers the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 33 played minutes Berliner Bären got a freekick which was hit by Elias Coveliers. After a defensive mix-up in New York Giants's zone, Sam-Lucas Nijs stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Frederik Van Geel came out of the goal and Sam-Lucas Nijs tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Viktor Roelants showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Arnout Henderickx in the 39th minute of the match. Răzvan Pisculescu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Frederik Van Geel having to interfere. Hakan Kaya kicked well hit freekick during the 46th minute of the match. Robbie Pieters, 47 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

A collision led to New York Giants getting a freekick after 52 minutes play. Armand Hemelaers hit a great ball. In the 56th minute, Andris Wintermans hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Arnout Henderickx blasted a shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Viktor Roelants having to make a save. Frederik Van Geel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Elias Coveliers, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Viktor Roelants made a fantastic save in the 68th minute, when Miguel Verheyden sent off a good shot on target. In the 71st minute, Louis Emeleers hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Berliner Bären's Răzvan Pisculescu got a good chance for a goal in the 73rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 75th minute, Mathias Van dooren 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. Frederik Van Geel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Elias Coveliers, who was totally free with the ball in the 79th minute. Răzvan Pisculescu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 81st minute. Frederik Van Geel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 84th match minute, Berliner Bären was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Elias Coveliers to maneuver through the defense. The audience thought a goal was coming when Miguel Verheyden got free with Viktor Roelants in the 86th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. New York Giants's Frederik Van Geel played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Răzvan Pisculescu in the 89th minute of play. Berliner Bären's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Hakan Kaya in the 91st minute. The corner led Berliner Bären's Hakan Kaya to fire away a dangerous shot which Frederik Van Geel despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 93rd match minute, New York Giants was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Miguel Verheyden to maneuver through the defense. Sam-Lucas Nijs received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 97th minute. Frederik Van Geel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Berliner Bären players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.