National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Pavel Alexandru made the kick off and thus started the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Pavel Alexandru got free with Časlav Pavlica in the 6th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Časlav Pavlica didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 8th minute, which inside left pole to 1-0. 11 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when King Scorpio came free, but Časlav Pavlica reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Pavel Alexandru got free with Časlav Pavlica in the 13th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Jure Cenov kicked well hit freekick during the 16th minute of the match. In the 17th minute, Romania's Pavel Alexandru dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-0. Romania's Cătălin Răduleț played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Zlatko Biondić in the 22nd minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Emil Popivoda during the 24th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Croatia's Emil Popivoda got a free kick in the 24th minute. With his leg Časlav Pavlica managed to avoid a goal in the 27thth minute, when Romania's Pavel Alexandru fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Zlatko Biondić took the ball and in the 28 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Cătălin Răduleț. Cătălin Răduleț dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pavel Alexandru in the 33rd minute of play forced Croatia's goalkeeper Časlav Pavlica to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Pavel Alexandru had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Romania's Pavel Alexandru got a good chance for a goal in the 39th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Croatia's zone, King Scorpio stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Časlav Pavlica came out of the goal and King Scorpio tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. King Scorpio received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Časlav Pavlica tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 45thth minute of the game Pavel Alexandru who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Croatia's Časlav Pavlica was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Romania were awarded a corner in the 47th minute after Croatia's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Szabolcs Albert took the corner. Romania's King Scorpio was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Časlav Pavlica in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-1 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Kazimir Pendo to strike the kick off in the second half. Romania's Cătălin Răduleț played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Zlatko Biondić in the 51st minute of play. Pavel Alexandru scored 3-1 in the 53rd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Časlav Pavlica, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Jure Cenov kicked well hit freekick during the 55th minute of the match. Romania's Răzvan Pârvuță was substituted for Pavel Alexandru. The supporters of Romania booed when Croatia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 57 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jure Cenov didn't get a good kick on the ball. Časlav Pavlica took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Răzvan Pârvuță, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With his leg Cătălin Răduleț managed to avoid a goal in the 59thth minute, when Croatia's Kazimir Pendo fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Răzvan Pârvuță sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Časlav Pavlica made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Răzvan Pârvuță in the 62nd minute of play. A collision led to Romania getting a freekick after 63 minutes play. Stefan Dobay hit a great ball. When Romania's Răzvan Pârvuță in the 67th minute got a chance for a shot 67th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Croatia's goalie prevented a goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Răzvan Pârvuță in the 77th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Časlav Pavlica saved Croatia from getting behind. The audience was convinced that Răzvan Pârvuță's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Časlav Pavlica was relentless in the 77th minute of the game. 91 minutes had been played when some careless play by Croatia's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Szabolcs Albert was slow to take the kick. During this time Romania's players had a chance to rest. In the 92nd minute Răzvan Pârvuță shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Časlav Pavlica saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some careless play in the Croatia defense, Stefan Dobay kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Časlav Pavlica. The Croatia fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Časlav Pavlica should have stopped the shot. Croatia's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.