National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) After 2 played minutes Belgium got a freekick which was hit by Leopold Van den Paenhuysen. Manuel Campens made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Guus Harmsen in the 8th minute of play. When Belgium's Mbaka Mbolu in the 12th minute got a chance for a shot 12th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Netherlands's goalie prevented a goal. 14 minutes into the match, Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Mbaka Mbolu came free, but Tadej Pogačar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Nick Heesen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 20 played minutes Belgium got a freekick which was hit by Mbaka Mbolu. Netherlands's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Marinus Doren in the 23rd minute. Manuel Campens took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nick Heesen, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Belgium's Manuel Campens played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nick Heesen in the 31st minute of play. Netherlands were awarded a corner in the 32th minute after Belgium's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Marinus Doren took the corner. After 36 minutes Belgium's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Marinus Doren who took care of the corner kick. Netherlands's Marinus Doren was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Manuel Campens in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. In the 37th minute Mbaka Mbolu 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. Netherlands's Tadej Pogačar proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 44th minute of the match, managed to save Netherlands from getting a goal against them. 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 home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Mbaka Mbolu was the one to do the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 51st minute, Mbaka Mbolu managed to get in a good position for a shot. Belgium's supporters rose to their feet, but Mbaka Mbolu was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tadej Pogačar breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Cobus Harding kicked well hit freekick during the 59th minute of the match. Tadej Pogačar showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mbaka Mbolu, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. The throw-in from Joel Wigghers in the 62nd minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Netherlands's Corné van Basten. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mbaka Mbolu in the 65th minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Tadej Pogačar to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With his leg Manuel Campens managed to avoid a goal in the 68thth minute, when Netherlands's Nick Heesen fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Mbaka Mbolu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 69th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tadej Pogačar having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mbaka Mbolu in the 71st minute of play forced Netherlands's goalkeeper Tadej Pogačar to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 78 minutes into the match, Belgium's Mbaka Mbolu sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Tadej Pogačar narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 79 minutes into the match, Mbaka Mbolu had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Tadej Pogačar. Netherlands's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Mbaka Mbolu was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Mbaka Mbolu in the 86th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Tadej Pogačar saved Netherlands from getting behind. Netherlands's Cobus Harding managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Joel Wigghers in the 91 minute of the game. A collision led to Netherlands getting a freekick after 92 minutes play. Corné van Basten hit a great ball. 93 minutes into the match, Belgium's Mbaka Mbolu sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Tadej Pogačar narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The supporters of Netherlands booed when Belgium was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 95 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kevin Debruyne didn't get a good kick on the ball. Belgium's defense didn't have a chance, in the 96th minute, when Kurt Redan scored to the left of an out of position Manuel Campens, making the score, 3-1. Belgium's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.