National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Ionică Săceanu kicked off to start the match. 6 minutes into the match, U21 Malta's goalkeeper Tonio Buttigieg had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ionică Săceanu. Ionică Săceanu blasted a shot towards the goal in the 8th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Tonio Buttigieg having to make a save. Iulian Arnăutu was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 11 minutes into the match. In the 16th minute Ashley Pantalleresco shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Remus Cristache saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 18th minute Ionică Săceanu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tonio Buttigieg saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ionică Săceanu struck a weak shot in the 20th minute. Tonio Buttigieg didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 Romania. Ionică Săceanus short, quick shot in the 28thth minute got Tonio Buttigieg to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. An unexpectedly hard shot by Francesco Arapa in the 30th minute of play forced U21 Romania's goalkeeper Remus Cristache to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of U21 Romania booed when U21 Malta was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 32 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ugo Filletti didn't get a good kick on the ball. Yan Vascotto kicked well hit freekick during the 38th minute of the match. When the match had gone on for 40 minutes, Ionică Săceanu put it in 1-1 from a short distance just to the right of Tonio Buttigieg. In the 46th minute, Ugo Filletti hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Ashley Pantalleresco made a kick off. 53 minutes into the game, Ionică Săceanu cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Tonio Buttigieg was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. U21 Malta's Tonio Buttigieg played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ionică Săceanu in the 57th minute of play. 59 minutes into the match, U21 Malta's goal looked a bit too open when Ionică Săceanu came free, but Tonio Buttigieg reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 62 minutes into the match, U21 Romania's Ionică Săceanu sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Tonio Buttigieg narrowly saved just below the crossbar. When U21 Malta's Fiobian Salamone in the 64th minute got a chance for a shot 64th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Romania's goalie prevented a goal. U21 Romania's Pavel Manciulescu was substituted for Mihnea Arvinte. U21 Malta made a substitution. Adrian Gafà replaced Ashley Pantalleresco. U21 Romania's Doru Pașcanu was substituted for Vlad Stan. Ugo Filletti made a great header on U21 Malta's corner, it was just that U21 Romania's Remus Cristache managed to reach the ball for a save. With a little luck, U21 Romania's Remus Cristache got control of the ball when Fiobian Salamone tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 76th minute U21 Romania were awarded a corner. Fabian Vătafu went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led U21 Romania's Horea Şerban to fire away a dangerous shot which Tonio Buttigieg despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. After some careless play in the U21 Malta defense, Horea Şerban kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Tonio Buttigieg. The U21 Malta fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Tonio Buttigieg should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Bernard Aber in the 84th minute of play forced U21 Romania's goalkeeper Remus Cristache to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 85 minutes into the match, U21 Malta's goal looked a bit too open when Horea Şerban came free, but Tonio Buttigieg reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Horea Şerban fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tonio Buttigieg having to interfere. Doru Pașcanu recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 91st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Horea Şerban received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 92nd minute. Tonio Buttigieg tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. U21 Malta's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.