National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) U21 Moldova's Emil Scobioalã started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Pat Zamora showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Emil Scobioalã in the 3rd minute of the match. Mesut Özil blasted a shot towards the goal in the 4th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Pat Zamora having to make a save. After some careless play in the U21 Northern Ireland defense, Emil Scobioalã kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Pat Zamora. The U21 Northern Ireland fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Pat Zamora should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mesut Özil in the 8th minute of play forced U21 Northern Ireland's goalkeeper Pat Zamora to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 12 minutes, Marius Cazacu mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Moldova and the U21 Northern Ireland players grew even worse after the yellow card. Marius Cazacu hit a great freekick 12 minutes into the match. Emil Scobioalã blasted a shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Pat Zamora having to make a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Constantin Stegaru in the 18th minute of play forced U21 Northern Ireland's goalkeeper Pat Zamora to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Best Junel made an important save on a dangerous shot by Sam Bates in the 21st minute. U21 Northern Ireland's Pat Zamora played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Emil Scobioalã in the 27th minute of play. The supporters of U21 Northern Ireland booed when U21 Moldova was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 29 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marius Cazacu didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Emil Scobioalã in the 34th minute of play forced U21 Northern Ireland's goalkeeper Pat Zamora to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 35th minute Emil Scobioalã shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pat Zamora saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Julian Deaconsfield during the 36th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of U21 Moldova booed when U21 Northern Ireland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 36 match minutes in a wonderful position. Julian Deaconsfield didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 40 played minutes U21 Northern Ireland got a freekick which was hit by Brian Kay. Sam Bates's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Best Junel read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 43rd minute of play. U21 Northern Ireland's Julian Deaconsfield was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Best Junel in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in.

Emil Scobioalã fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pat Zamora having to interfere. Best Junel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sam Bates in the 56th minute of the match. Best Junel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Erling Haaland, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Best Junel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Sam Bates, who was totally free with the ball in the 59th minute. In the 59th minute Sam Bates shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Best Junel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Mesut Özil got free with Pat Zamora in the 61st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Sam Bates sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sam Bates in the 67th minute of play forced U21 Moldova's goalkeeper Best Junel to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Mesut Özil had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. U21 Northern Ireland made a substitution. Eric Choupo-Moting replaced Sam Bates. U21 Northern Ireland's Ivan Wilson was substituted for Julian Deaconsfield. Eric Choupo-Moting sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 71 minutes into the match, U21 Moldova's goal looked a bit too open when Eric Choupo-Moting came free, but Best Junel reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Best Junel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Eric Choupo-Moting, who was totally free with the ball in the 72nd minute. In the 74thth minute of the game Emil Scobioalã who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Northern Ireland's Pat Zamora was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. U21 Northern Ireland's Pat Zamora played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Emil Scobioalã in the 75th minute of play. After a rather tough play, U21 Moldova's George Baraboi got a free kick in the 78th minute. U21 Moldova made a substitution. Mihail Postolache replaced Emil Scobioalã. A collision led to U21 Moldova getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. George Baraboi hit a great ball. Ilie Cazacu made in the 81st minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Aparicio Junel. Ilie Cazacu kicked well hit freekick during the 82nd minute of the match. 86 minutes into the match, U21 Northern Ireland's Eric Choupo-Moting sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Best Junel narrowly saved just below the crossbar. When the match had gone on for 88 minutes, Mihail Postolache took a quick shot and it went in 0-2 without a chance for Pat Zamora to make any attempt to save it. Eric Choupo-Moting took the ball and in the 93 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Best Junel. Best Junel dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. After 96 minutes of play, U21 Moldova's Mihail Postolache made it 1-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Pat Zamora was left in no man's land by his defense there! When the match was over U21 Moldova could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than U21 Northern Ireland throughout the match.