National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Alessio Tullo started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 5th minute, U21 Italy's Alessio Tullo ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Antero Linhares. Antero Linhares yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. 8 minutes into the match, U21 Portugal's goalkeeper Antero Linhares had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lucas-Ignacio Cunha. Normando Macena hit a great freekick 12 minutes into the match. U21 Portugal's Antero Linhares played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Frank Scarcella in the 13th minute of play. In the 28th minute of the match, Frank Scarcella tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Antero Linhares saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. After a rather tough play, U21 Italy's Angelo Di Livio got a free kick in the 28th minute. Luke Skywalker showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Damião Passos, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. Normando Macena kicked well hit freekick during the 31st minute of the match. Alessio Tullo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Antero Linhares firmly grabbed it by the left post. If Ivaylo Yordanov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of U21 Portugal booed when U21 Italy was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 35 match minutes in a wonderful position. Frank Scarcella didn't get a good kick on the ball. Luke Skywalker showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Damião Passos in the 35th minute of the match. When the match clock showed 36 minutes, the score became 1-1 when Zezé Haaland sped through U21 Italy's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Luke Skywalker. U21 Italy's Luke Skywalker played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ivaylo Yordanov in the 40th minute of play. Lucas-Ignacio Cunha could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 46th minute of the match, but Antero Linhares made a huge save. Antero Linhares showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Lucas-Ignacio Cunha in the 47th minute of the match. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The wind increased when Zezé Haaland made the kick off in the second half. U21 Portugal's Antero Linhares played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Takeshi Tachibana in the 56th minute of play. The supporters of U21 Italy booed when U21 Portugal was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 57 match minutes in a wonderful position. Normando Macena didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 59th minute Alessio Tullo 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. 62 minutes into the match, U21 Portugal's goal looked a bit too open when Alessio Tullo came free, but Antero Linhares reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Antero Linhares took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alessio Tullo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Roberto Baggio sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. U21 Italy made a substitution. Derman Crétin replaced Alessio Tullo. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Zezé Haaland in the 70th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Luke Skywalker saved U21 Italy from getting behind. Antero Linhares took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Frank Scarcella, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 76 minutes U21 Portugal's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Takeshi Tachibana who took care of the corner kick. The corner led U21 Italy's Takeshi Tachibana to fire away a dangerous shot which Antero Linhares despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Luke Skywalker showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ivaylo Yordanov in the 78th minute of the match. Luke Skywalker showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ivaylo Yordanov, who was totally free with the ball in the 78th minute. Luke Skywalker showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ivaylo Yordanov, who was totally free with the ball in the 78th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lucas-Ignacio Cunha in the 81st minute of play forced U21 Portugal's goalkeeper Antero Linhares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Antero Linhares showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Roberto Baggio, who was totally free with the ball in the 82nd minute. In the 84th minute, Derman Crétin 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 3-1. U21 Portugal made a substitution. Xavier Carvalhal replaced Damião Passos. In the 95th minute, Frank Scarcella left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The U21 Italy fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 4-1. U21 Portugal's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.