U18 World League

De kikkerkazerne
Spectators: 7587 (Terracing: 5691, Seating: 1745, VIP seats: 151) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Ernest van der Laan took the kick off in the first half of the match. 12 minutes into the match, Kickers United's goal looked a bit too open when Wilco Theuws came free, but Octavian Verhulst reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Stanny Helssens fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 13th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Henry Lembeck having to interfere. Ernest van der Laan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 16th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Octavian Verhulst having to interfere. If Ernest van der Laan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 20th minute, Ferdi Dekens managed to get in a good position for a shot. Zijdewind SC's supporters rose to their feet, but Ferdi Dekens was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Octavian Verhulst breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 28th minute Ferdi Dekens shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Octavian Verhulst saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Zijdewind SC were awarded a corner in the 29th minute after Kickers United's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Ferdi Dekens took the corner. After taking down the ball on Zijdewind SC's corner Ferdi Dekens fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Octavian Verhulst quite easily take care of the ball. Zijdewind SC's Henry Lembeck played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jannic Van Cruchten in the 34th minute of play. Zijdewind SC's Wilco Theuws got a good chance for a goal in the 44th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After having played for 46 minutes, Rudi den Hartog managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Zijdewind SC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rudi den Hartog was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The Kickers United players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Zijdewind SC were winning 0-1.

In the 56th minute, Ferdi Dekens ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Octavian Verhulst was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. In the 59th match minute, Kickers United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Edgard Raymaekers to maneuver through the defense. Ferdi Dekens recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 59th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a defensive mix-up in Kickers United's zone, Wilco Theuws stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Octavian Verhulst came out of the goal and Wilco Theuws tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Wayne De Mey's late challenge caught a Zijdewind SC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Wayne De Mey helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Kickers United getting a freekick after 73 minutes play. Wayne De Mey hit a great ball. After 74 played minutes Zijdewind SC got a freekick which was hit by Melvin Woering. With a little luck, Kickers United's Octavian Verhulst got control of the ball when Melvin Woering tried to sneak it across the goal line. Octavian Verhulst stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ernest van der Laan's shot from short distance in the 78th minute. After 78 played minutes Kickers United got a freekick which was hit by Maxime Uytterhaegen. When Ernest van der Laan came up free with the goalie in the 88th minute, the Zijdewind SC 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 Ernest van der Laan couldn't finish the play. Octavian Verhulst was a little too slow when Ernest van der Laan got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 90th minute. The score was now 0-3. Octavian Verhulst took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Melvin Woering, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Zijdewind SC's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.