National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10305 (Terracing: 7729, Seating: 2370, VIP seats: 206) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Nick Veenker got the match started through his kick off. 9 minutes into the match, Nick Veenker notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of U21 Croatia's Jasmin Đupić. Jasmin Đupić was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After 13 minutes, Piet Pistol made it 0-2 with a short kick to the right side. U21 Croatia's Jasmin Đupić tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. 15 minutes into the match, U21 Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Piet Pistol came free, but Jasmin Đupić reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 17th minute of the match U21 Netherlands got a corner. U21 Croatia's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Tim Heikens ran over to the corner to take the kick. Kenneth E. Cillessen showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Donat Bratanović, who was totally free with the ball in the 19th minute. Kazimir Sturko's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Kenneth E. Cillessen read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 20th minute of play. U21 Croatia's Jasmin Đupić played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nick Veenker in the 21st minute of play. Donat Bratanović fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 22nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Kenneth E. Cillessen having to interfere. Jasmin Đupić took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nick Veenker, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 28 minutes into the game, Jan de Vries cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-3. Jasmin Đupić was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Jan de Vries recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 33rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 36thth minute of the game Donat Bratanović who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Netherlands's Kenneth E. Cillessen was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. With a little luck, U21 Netherlands's Kenneth E. Cillessen got control of the ball when Donat Bratanović tried to sneak it across the goal line. When U21 Netherlands's Nick Veenker in the 39th minute got a chance for a shot 39th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Croatia's goalie prevented a goal. In the 42nd match minute, U21 Croatia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kazimir Sturko to maneuver through the defense. Jasmin Đupić came out of the goal in the 46th minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Netherlands's Nick Veenker. But to his dismay, Nick Veenker quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-4. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-4.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Donat Bratanović made a kick off. When the match had gone on for 53 minutes, Jan de Vries took a quick shot and it went in 0-5 without a chance for Jasmin Đupić to make any attempt to save it. After having played for 59 minutes, Adriaan Butter managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Netherlands's supporters crossed their fingers, but Adriaan Butter was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. U21 Netherlands's Sjors Matthews was substituted for Nick Veenker. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Sjors Matthews in the 66th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jasmin Đupić prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Kenneth E. Cillessen didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Donat Bratanović went, in the 68th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-5 was the resulting score. Sjors Matthewss short, quick shot in the 75thth minute got Jasmin Đupić to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 78th minute Sjors Matthews shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jasmin Đupić saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a little luck, U21 Croatia's Jasmin Đupić got control of the ball when Piet Pistol tried to sneak it across the goal line. Danny Schuiling hit a great freekick 80 minutes into the match. Sjors Matthews could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 86th minute of the match, but Jasmin Đupić made a huge save. After having played for 87 minutes, Zoltan Ljubičić managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Croatia's supporters crossed their fingers, but Zoltan Ljubičić was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a rather tough play, U21 Netherlands's Adriaan Butter got a free kick in the 89th minute. Kenneth E. Cillessen stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Donat Bratanović's shot from short distance in the 91st minute. Donat Bratanović kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd minute of the match. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. U21 Netherlands walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.