National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Hayes Dempsey made the kick off which started today's match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Valentin Fère in the 2nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Liam Sheridan prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When Valentin Fère came up free with the goalie in the 6th minute, the U21 France fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Valentin Fère couldn't finish the play. In the 8th minute there was a penalty for U21 France. Charles-Emmanuel Le Clech stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Liam Sheridan. 0-1. Liam Sheridan stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Valentin Fère's shot from short distance in the 11th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Valentin Fère in the 14th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Liam Sheridan prevented the ball from getting in the gole. An unexpected shot in the 16th minute by Rorey Tracy got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. In the 18th minute, Valentin Fère left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The U21 France fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-2. In a very dangerous position, a player in U21 Ireland fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 25th minute. Penalty! Phelan Costello kicked well hit freekick during the 30th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Valentin Fère in the 30th minute of play forced U21 Ireland's goalkeeper Liam Sheridan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 32nd minute, Valentin Fère ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Liam Sheridan was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-4. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Valentin Fère in the 35th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Liam Sheridan saved U21 Ireland from getting behind. Valentin Fère struck a weak shot in the 39th minute. Liam Sheridan didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 France. Phelan Costello received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 41st minute. Hugo Masse tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-5 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Valentin Fère made the kick off in the second half. When Valentin Fère came up free with the goalie in the 51st minute, the U21 France fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Valentin Fère couldn't finish the play. U21 France's Barthélémy Hantz got a good chance for a goal in the 53rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Valentin Fère sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. U21 France made a substitution. Ramzi Verhaeghe replaced Barthélémy Hantz. Artt McBrandon hit a great freekick 65 minutes into the match. Merlin De Clercq blasted a shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Liam Sheridan having to make a save. After 72 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for U21 Ireland! Liam Sheridan was a little too slow when Ramzi Verhaeghe got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 77th minute. The score was now 0-8. Liam Sheridan made a fantastic save in the 79th minute, when Merlin De Clercq sent off a good shot on target. A hard shot 81 in the game by Merlin De Clercq from a close distance when the talented Liam Sheridan managed to make a qualified save. U21 Ireland's players were relieved. Merlin De Clercq sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Merlin De Clercq who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 85thth minute tested the skills of Liam Sheridan when he managed to save the team from getting behind. If Ramzi Verhaeghe had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 89 minutes into the game, Merlin De Clercq cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-9. Liam Sheridan was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. With a little luck, U21 Ireland's Liam Sheridan got control of the ball when Merlin De Clercq tried to sneak it across the goal line. An unexpected shot in the 94th minute by Merlin De Clercq got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Liam Sheridan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ramzi Verhaeghe, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side.