National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) U21 Portugal's Ivaylo Yordanov 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. Amedeo Mascia fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 2nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Antero Linhares having to interfere. Alessio Scannella made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ivaylo Yordanov in the 5th minute of play. In the 6th match minute, U21 Italy was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ferdinando Di Natale to maneuver through the defense. In the 11th minute Felipe Melo 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. In the 14th minute U21 Italy were awarded a corner. Ryo Ishizaki went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner ended in Ryo Ishizaki almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but U21 Portugal's Antero Linhares did a great save. After a rather tough play, U21 Portugal's Gualter Espírito Santo got a free kick in the 15th minute. Antero Linhares made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Amedeo Mascia in the 16th minute of play. Antero Linhares made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Amedeo Mascia in the 18th minute of play. U21 Italy were awarded a corner in the 19th minute after U21 Portugal's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Ryo Ishizaki took the corner. After taking down the ball on U21 Italy's corner Ryo Ishizaki fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Antero Linhares quite easily take care of the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Amedeo Mascia in the 22nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Antero Linhares saved U21 Portugal from getting behind. Antero Linhares stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Amedeo Mascia's shot from short distance in the 22nd minute. The audience was convinced that Amedeo Mascia's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Antero Linhares was relentless in the 25th minute of the game. When Normando Macena fell near the penalty area in the 27th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 Portugal's protests and gave Normando Macena a yellow card for diving instead. Normando Macena kicked well hit freekick during the 27th minute of the match. Alessio Scannella made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ivaylo Yordanov in the 29th minute of play. Alessio Scannella made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ivaylo Yordanov in the 30th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Amedeo Mascia in the 32nd minute of play forced U21 Portugal's goalkeeper Antero Linhares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Amedeo Mascia in the 39th minute of play forced U21 Portugal's goalkeeper Antero Linhares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 42nd minute Amedeo Mascia 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. In the 44th minute Amedeo Mascia 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. If Ivaylo Yordanov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The wind increased when Amedeo Mascia made the kick off in the second half. A collision led to U21 Portugal getting a freekick after 56 minutes play. Gualter Espírito Santo hit a great ball. In the 59th minute, Adriano De Simone hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. U21 Italy's Aydan Storm was substituted for Dino Cinque. U21 Italy's Amedeo Mascia got a good chance for a goal in the 62nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. U21 Italy made a substitution. Comunardo Nazzari replaced Felipe Melo. If Amedeo Mascia had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Amedeo Mascia's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 71stth minute, Antero Linhares skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. U21 Portugal's Richard Dawkins was substituted for Ivaylo Yordanov. U21 Italy made a substitution. Alfredo Campo replaced Amedeo Mascia. Bruno Di Federico made in the 79th minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Aydan Storm. The supporters of U21 Italy booed when U21 Portugal was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 80 match minutes in a wonderful position. Normando Macena didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 81st minute, Alfredo Campo ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Antero Linhares was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. 83 minutes into the match, U21 Italy's Alfredo Campo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Antero Linhares narrowly saved just below the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Richard Dawkins in the 90th minute of play forced U21 Italy's goalkeeper Alessio Scannella to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Alessio Scannella took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Richard Dawkins, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. U21 Italy's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.