National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10364 (Terracing: 7773, Seating: 2384, VIP seats: 207) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Filippo Inzaghi got the match started through his kick off. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Sal Goyanes during the 2nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to U21 Venezuela getting a freekick after 4 minutes play. Sal Goyanes hit a great ball. With a little luck, U21 Venezuela's Furman Cuadro got control of the ball when Leopoldo Tibalt tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 9th minute Leopoldo Tibalt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Furman Cuadro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Erubiel Bidun struck a weak shot in the 15th minute. Furman Cuadro didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 Argentina. Eddie Waxman could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 17th minute of the match, but Furman Cuadro made a huge save. In the 19th minute Filippo Inzaghi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hugo Lloris saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 20th minute Leopoldo Tibalt shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Furman Cuadro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. U21 Venezuela's Arsenio Tovilleja got a good chance for a goal in the 25th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Zacarias Montay hit a great freekick 27 minutes into the match. U21 Argentina's Hugo Lloris played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Arsenio Tovilleja in the 30th minute of play. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 43rd minute of the game. One of U21 Venezuela:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of U21 Argentina:s goal. In the 44th minute there was a penalty for U21 Argentina. Rigoberto Semeno stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Furman Cuadro. 1-0. Af the end of the first half the score was 1-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Erubiel Bidun stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Eddie Waxman sent away a hard shot on goal in the 51st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Hugo Lloris showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Filippo Inzaghi in the 54th minute of the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Eddie Waxman in the 55th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Furman Cuadro prevented the ball from getting in the gole. With a little luck, U21 Argentina's Hugo Lloris got control of the ball when Arsenio Tovilleja tried to sneak it across the goal line. U21 Argentina made a substitution. Eustacio Louis replaced Rolando Bingen. In the 61st match minute, U21 Argentina was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Silverio Santana to maneuver through the defense. U21 Venezuela's Giro Hoyuelos was substituted for Filippo Inzaghi. Furman Cuadro took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Erubiel Bidun, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to U21 Venezuela getting a freekick after 81 minutes play. Sal Goyanes hit a great ball. In the 87th match minute, U21 Venezuela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sebastian Lopes to maneuver through the defense. U21 Venezuela's Furman Cuadro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Erubiel Bidun in the 88th minute of play. In the 91st minute of the match U21 Argentina got a corner. U21 Venezuela's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Rigoberto Semeno ran over to the corner to take the kick. 95 minutes into the match, U21 Argentina's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by John Locke. U21 Venezuela were awarded a corner in the 96th minute after U21 Argentina's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. John Locke took the corner. A well-hit corner resulted in Baiona Alves heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. For all the effort they put into the match, the U21 Venezuela players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for U21 Argentina.