National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) U21 Romania's Jo Ares played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Samuil Bibin in the 8th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Samuil Bibin got free with Jo Ares in the 10th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Jo Ares made an important save on a dangerous shot by Samuil Bibin in the 10th minute. If Gheorghe Craioveanu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Stoyadin Shahov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gheorghe Craioveanu, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. Stoyadin Shahov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gheorghe Craioveanu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When U21 Romania's Gheorghe Craioveanu in the 18th minute got a chance for a shot 18th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Bulgaria's goalie prevented a goal. Jo Ares showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Samuil Bibin in the 25th minute of the match. Gheorghe Craioveanu blasted a shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Stoyadin Shahov having to make a save. U21 Bulgaria's Velislav Tzapov got a good chance for a goal in the 29th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. A collision led to U21 Romania getting a freekick after 30 minutes play. Sebastian Mailat hit a great ball. Bozhko Shtúrkelov took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 35th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Jo Ares. U21 Romania's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. When U21 Bulgaria's Samuil Bibin in the 41st minute got a chance for a shot 41st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Romania's goalie prevented a goal. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Samuil Bibin stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Jo Ares showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Velislav Tzapov in the 52nd minute of the match. In the 54th minute U21 Bulgaria were awarded a corner. Bozhko Shtúrkelov went to the cornerflag to take it. A well done corner resulted in Velcho Tzintzov drilling the ball in to score 2-0 behind U21 Romania's goalkeeper. Jo Ares stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Samuil Bibin's shot from short distance in the 57th minute. Stoyadin Shahov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristinel Nicodim in the 58th minute of play. U21 Bulgaria's defense didn't have a chance, in the 61st minute, when Cristinel Nicodim scored to the left of an out of position Stoyadin Shahov, making the score, 2-1. Velcho Tzintzov sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jo Ares showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Samuil Bibin, who was totally free with the ball in the 66th minute. In the 67th minute Velislav Tzapov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jo Ares saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, U21 Bulgaria's Bozhko Shtúrkelov got a free kick in the 69th minute. U21 Bulgaria's Stoyadin Shahov proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 70th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Bulgaria from getting a goal against them. After a rather tough play, U21 Bulgaria's John Terry got a free kick in the 71st minute. Codruț Bârsan took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 72nd minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Stoyadin Shahov. U21 Bulgaria's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Stoyadin Shahov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristinel Nicodim, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. After having played for 78 minutes, Petre Petrean managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Romania's supporters crossed their fingers, but Petre Petrean was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 83 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Bulgaria's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Codruț Bârsan was slow to take the kick. During this time U21 Romania's players had a chance to rest. In the 85th minute of the match, Cristinel Nicodim tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Stoyadin Shahov saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. In the 86th minute Velislav Tzapov shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jo Ares saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Leontin Titulescu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 87th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The crowd rose to their feet as U21 Romania's Gheorghe Craioveanu slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Stoyadin Shahov. That made the score 2-3 after 88 minutes of play. Stoyadin Shahov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cristinel Nicodim in the 91st minute of play. In the 95th minute Cristinel Nicodim shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stoyadin Shahov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line.