League

Vodafone Arena
Spectators: 7974 (Terracing: 5982, Seating: 1834, VIP seats: 158) New York Giants's Arnout Henderickx started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Stan Smeulders fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Frederik Van Geel having to interfere. Rens Van Damme showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Arnout Henderickx in the 14th minute of the match. Miguel Verheyden's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Rens Van Damme read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 15th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arnout Henderickx in the 16th minute of play forced Chelsea's goalkeeper Rens Van Damme to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Philip van Hagenborgh charged in rather forcefully in the 18th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Philip van Hagenborgh the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Chelsea getting a freekick after 18 minutes play. Philip van Hagenborgh hit a great ball. In the 19th match minute, Chelsea was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Philip van Hagenborgh to maneuver through the defense. 22 minutes into the match, Chelsea's goal looked a bit too open when Miguel Verheyden came free, but Rens Van Damme reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Miguel Verheyden fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rens Van Damme having to interfere. Chelsea's Rens Van Damme played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Arnout Henderickx in the 25th minute of play. 29 minutes into the game, Janes Weba was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Chelsea's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave New York Giants the free kick. The supporters of New York Giants booed when Chelsea was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 29 match minutes in a wonderful position. Janes Weba didn't get a good kick on the ball. Chelsea's Janes Weba shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 33rd minute of play. The shot was stopped by Frederik Van Geel but with some difficulty. When New York Giants's Miguel Verheyden, in the 35th minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for New York Giants. Philip van Hagenborgh kicked well hit freekick during the 38th minute of the match. Rens Van Damme showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Miguel Verheyden in the 39th minute of the match. Miguel Verheyden received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 41st minute. Rens Van Damme tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Rens Van Damme showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Arnout Henderickx in the 43rd minute of the match. Rens Van Damme made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Miguel Verheyden in the 45th minute of play. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Stan Smeulders stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Miguel Verheyden 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. Rens Van Damme took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Arnout Henderickx, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Arnout Henderickx had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Janes Weba was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 58 minutes had been played. In a very dangerous position, a player in Chelsea fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 58th minute. Penalty! Rens Van Damme had in the 60thth minute some difficulties stopping Robbie Pieters's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. In the 60th minute, Boudewijn Dewinter hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After recieving a nice pass, New York Giants's Robbie Pieters tried to score from far away in the 61st minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. Rens Van Damme showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Arnout Henderickx in the 63rd minute of the match. Miguel Verheyden received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 65th minute. Rens Van Damme tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Arnout Henderickx sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Miguel Verheyden recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 71st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Kasper Pastijns had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 76th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Didier Demeester kicked well hit freekick during the 78th minute of the match. Arnout Henderickx fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rens Van Damme having to interfere. Rens Van Damme made a fantastic save in the 85th minute, when Miguel Verheyden sent off a good shot on target. After some careless play in the Chelsea defense, Miguel Verheyden kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Rens Van Damme. The Chelsea fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Rens Van Damme should have stopped the shot. Miguel Verheyden fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 98th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rens Van Damme having to interfere.