Challenge

National stadium
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Nick Heesen took the kick off in the first half of the match. Taavet Vest took the ball and in the 6 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Tadej Pogačar. Tadej Pogačar 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. With a little luck, FFC Merainies 03's Alisson Beckers got control of the ball when Frenkie de Jong tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 10 minutes FFC Merainies 03's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Frenkie de Jong who took care of the corner kick. The corner led Netherlands's Michel Dijkman to fire away a dangerous shot which Alisson Beckers despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. 12 minutes had been played when some careless play by FFC Merainies 03's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Frenkie de Jong was slow to take the kick. During this time Netherlands's players had a chance to rest. Corné van Basten made a great header on Netherlands's corner, it was just that FFC Merainies 03's Alisson Beckers managed to reach the ball for a save. In the 16th minute of the match, Frenkie de Jong got a very nice opportunity to score, but Alisson Beckers was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Tadej Pogačar made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Leon Craandijk in the 18th minute of play. Alisson Beckers showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Frenkie de Jong in the 21st minute of the match. Frenkie de Jong received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Alisson Beckers tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 30th match minute, FFC Merainies 03 was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Izaak Spijker to maneuver through the defense. 32 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Taavet Vest came free, but Tadej Pogačar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 33 minutes into the match, FFC Merainies 03's goal looked a bit too open when Nick Heesen came free, but Alisson Beckers reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 35th minute Raúl van Beek shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tadej Pogačar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Tadej Pogačar took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Leon Craandijk, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. FFC Merainies 03's Alisson Beckers proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 39th minute of the match, managed to save FFC Merainies 03 from getting a goal against them. 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Leon Craandijk made a kick off. In the 51st minute, Raúl van Beek reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Tadej Pogačar. The goal made the score 1-2. In the 57th minute Nick Heesen shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alisson Beckers saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Harold Pothuizen was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. The throw-in from Johan Telkamp in the 61st minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Netherlands's Corné van Basten. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Frenkie de Jong in the 63rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Alisson Beckers saved FFC Merainies 03 from getting behind. In the 65th minute Frenkie de Jong shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alisson Beckers saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a little luck, Netherlands's Tadej Pogačar got control of the ball when Taavet Vest tried to sneak it across the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 69th minute, Frenkie de Jong managed to get in a good position for a shot. Netherlands's supporters rose to their feet, but Frenkie de Jong was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Alisson Beckers breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Netherlands's Guus Harmsen was substituted for Frenkie de Jong. Netherlands's Marco Hegeman was substituted for Robin Boelens. Tadej Pogačar showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Taavet Vest in the 78th minute of the match. After 80 played minutes Netherlands got a freekick which was hit by Cobus Harding. Netherlands's Joop Bakker was substituted for Marinus Doren. In the 82nd match minute, Netherlands was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cobus Harding to maneuver through the defense. Jan-Willem Adams shot a long shot in the 82nd minute and a light blocked Tadej Pogačar hadn't a chance when the ball went into goal on his right side. It was 1-3. Taavet Vest could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 85th minute of the match, but Tadej Pogačar made a huge save. The crowd rose to their feet as Taavet Vest kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Tadej Pogačar. That made the score 1-4 in the 85 minute of play. Netherlands's Tadej Pogačar proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 88th minute of the match, managed to save Netherlands from getting a goal against them. When Guus Harmsen came up free with the goalie in the 95th minute, the Netherlands 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 Guus Harmsen couldn't finish the play. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. FFC Merainies 03 walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.