National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Gerben Baan started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Berend Iepstra made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Patty Barrett in the 4th minute of play. 4 minutes into the match, U21 Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Patty Barrett came free, but Berend Iepstra reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 7 minutes, Eddy Nieuwendijk mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Netherlands and the U21 Ireland players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of U21 Ireland booed when U21 Netherlands was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 7 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eddy Nieuwendijk didn't get a good kick on the ball. U21 Netherlands's Berend Iepstra proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 9th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Netherlands from getting a goal against them. 11 minutes into the game, Patty Barrett recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Berend Iepstra. Patty Barrett showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Hayes Dempsey in the 15th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Berend Iepstra saved U21 Netherlands from getting behind. Berend Iepstra made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Declan Dalton in the 17th minute of play. Bairthmead Gallagher showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Eddy Nieuwendijk, who was totally free with the ball in the 21st minute. In the last second Berend Iepstra throw himself and got hold of the ball when Patty Barrett in the 24thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. In the 25th minute Rorey Tracy shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Berend Iepstra saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Patty Barrett in the 27th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Berend Iepstra saved U21 Netherlands from getting behind. Bairthmead Gallagher took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gerben Baan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 31 played minutes U21 Ireland got a freekick which was hit by Perry Johnson. Patty Barrett sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a little luck, U21 Netherlands's Berend Iepstra got control of the ball when Declan Dalton tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 39 played minutes U21 Ireland got a freekick which was hit by Bardan McFrank. If Gerben Baan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 48 minutes into the match, U21 Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Patty Barrett came free, but Berend Iepstra reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Patty Barrett made a kick off. Berend Iepstra stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Patty Barrett's shot from short distance in the 52nd minute. Berend Iepstra showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Declan Dalton, who was totally free with the ball in the 56th minute. After 58 played minutes U21 Netherlands got a freekick which was hit by Oliver Dalmeijer. Liam Sheridan made a great header on U21 Ireland's corner, it was just that U21 Netherlands's Berend Iepstra managed to reach the ball for a save. In the 66th match minute, U21 Netherlands was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Pascal Roorda to maneuver through the defense. Patty Barrett fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Berend Iepstra having to interfere. In the 73rd minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Netherlands's goalkeeper Berend Iepstra, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 74 minutes into the match, U21 Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Hayes Dempsey came free, but Berend Iepstra reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Rorey Tracy's shot from long distance was a real pearl which went to the right and just passed Berend Iepstra - 2-0 was put on the score board in the 75th minute. After 78 played minutes U21 Netherlands got a freekick which was hit by Eddy Nieuwendijk. When U21 Ireland's Patty Barrett in the 85th minute got a chance for a shot 85th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Netherlands's goalie prevented a goal. In the 86thth minute of the game Gerben Baan who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Ireland's Bairthmead Gallagher was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 87th minute, Perry Johnson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Pascal Roorda recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 89th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. U21 Netherlands's Berend Iepstra played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Patty Barrett in the 91st minute of play. Berend Iepstra took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rorey Tracy, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Berend Iepstra showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Declan Dalton in the 96th minute of the match. U21 Netherlands's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.