National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Ivaylo Yordanov made the kick off and thus started the match. After some careless play in the U21 Portugal defense, Peter Pennant kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Antero Linhares. The U21 Portugal fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Antero Linhares should have stopped the shot. The supporters of U21 England booed when U21 Portugal was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 8 match minutes in a wonderful position. Isidoro Vilarinho didn't get a good kick on the ball. Emanuel Mourinho charged in rather forcefully in the 12th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Emanuel Mourinho the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 13 played minutes U21 Portugal got a freekick which was hit by Emanuel Mourinho. Antero Linhares showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Peter Pennant, who was totally free with the ball in the 16th minute. Ross Armitage showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ivaylo Yordanov in the 17th minute of the match. After taking down the ball on U21 Portugal's corner Normando Macena fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Ross Armitage quite easily take care of the ball. In the 26th match minute, U21 England was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Stewart Browne to maneuver through the defense. Ross Armitage showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ivaylo Yordanov in the 27th minute of the match. After 30 minutes, Vance Ainsworth mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 England and the U21 Portugal players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, U21 England's Vance Ainsworth got a free kick in the 30th minute. 34 minutes into the match, U21 England's Peter Pennant sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Antero Linhares narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Ivaylo Yordanov was extremely unlucky when he, in the 42nd minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. 42 minutes into the match, U21 England's goal looked a bit too open when Ivaylo Yordanov came free, but Ross Armitage reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 45 minutes into the match, U21 England's goalkeeper Ross Armitage had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ivaylo Yordanov. Ivaylo Yordanov who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 47thth minute tested the skills of Ross Armitage when he managed to save the team from getting behind. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

U21 Portugal's Adam George was substituted for Mustapha Hadji. The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Tony Plumber was the one to do the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ivaylo Yordanov in the 55th minute of play forced U21 England's goalkeeper Ross Armitage to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Peter Pennant got free with Antero Linhares in the 60th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 62nd minute Ashley Gardiner shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Antero Linhares saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ross Armitage stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ivaylo Yordanov's shot from short distance in the 65th minute. U21 England's Ross Armitage played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ivaylo Yordanov in the 69th minute of play. In the 69th match minute, U21 England was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vance Ainsworth to maneuver through the defense. U21 Portugal made a substitution. Machado Assis replaced Emanuel Mourinho. In the 72nd minute, one of U21 Portugal:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for U21 Portugal. The goalkeeper, Antero Linhares, was totally fooled by U21 England's Peter Pennant, who 75 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. U21 Portugal made a substitution. Richard Dawkins replaced Ivaylo Yordanov. When Fernando Couto fell near the penalty area in the 94th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 Portugal's protests and gave Fernando Couto a yellow card for diving instead. In the 94th match minute, U21 Portugal was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fernando Couto to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of U21 England booed when U21 Portugal was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 96 match minutes in a wonderful position. Albertino Leão didn't get a good kick on the ball. Peter Pennant could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 100th minute of the match, but Antero Linhares made a huge save. The U21 Portugal supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching U21 England's performance. The match ended with a win for U21 England.