National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Kevin Barry kicked off to start the match. Banon Cassin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Hernán Crespo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Italy were awarded a corner in the 9th minute after Ireland's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Ciro Ferrara took the corner. The corner led Italy's Alfonso De Sanctis to fire away a dangerous shot which Banon Cassin despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kevin Barry in the 11th minute of play forced Italy's goalkeeper Daniele Cagnetta to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alfonso De Sanctis in the 15th minute of play forced Ireland's goalkeeper Banon Cassin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Banon Cassin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Hernán Crespo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ireland's Banon Cassin proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 20th minute of the match, managed to save Ireland from getting a goal against them. After some fancy dribbling in the 22nd minute, Diego Maradona managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ireland's supporters rose to their feet, but Diego Maradona was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Daniele Cagnetta breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Fausto Munno could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 24th minute of the match, but Banon Cassin made a huge save. Daniele Cagnetta took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kevin Barry, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Banon Cassin made a fantastic save in the 26th minute, when Alfonso De Sanctis sent off a good shot on target. Italy's Daniele Cagnetta played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Diego Maradona in the 28th minute of play. Banon Cassin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hernán Crespo in the 30th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kevin Barry in the 34th minute of play forced Italy's goalkeeper Daniele Cagnetta to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Daniele Cagnetta showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Kevin Barry in the 34th minute of the match. 36 minutes into the match, Italy's goal looked a bit too open when Kevin Barry came free, but Daniele Cagnetta reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 37th minute, Alfonso De Sanctis got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Daniele Cagnetta showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tirloch Costello in the 38th minute of the match. In the 40th minute, Alfonso De Sanctis got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Italy's Daniele Cagnetta played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Diego Maradona in the 42nd minute of play. If Alfonso De Sanctis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 45thth minute of the game Hernán Crespo who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Ireland's Banon Cassin was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 47th minute, Hernán Crespo ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Banon Cassin was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Fausto Munno to strike the kick off in the second half. Aubrey Rutherford could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 53rd minute of the match, but Daniele Cagnetta made a huge save. Daniele Cagnetta made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Diego Maradona in the 55th minute of play. 56 minutes into the match, Kevin Barry dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Daniele Cagnetta, 1-1. An unexpectedly hard shot by Kevin Barry in the 60th minute of play forced Italy's goalkeeper Daniele Cagnetta to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 61st match minute, Ireland was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Brenn Sheridan to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of Italy booed when Ireland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 62 match minutes in a wonderful position. Brenn Sheridan didn't get a good kick on the ball. Tirloch Costello could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 63rd minute of the match, but Daniele Cagnetta made a huge save. Daniele Cagnetta showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Diego Maradona in the 64th minute of the match. 69 minutes into the match, Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Fausto Munno came free, but Banon Cassin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tirloch Costello got free with Daniele Cagnetta in the 70th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Daniele Cagnetta had great luck who in the 70thth minute grab hold of the ball when Tirloch Costello from a short distance tried to put the ball inside the right post. Italy were awarded a corner in the 74th minute after Ireland's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Ciro Ferrara took the corner. The corner led Italy's Eugenio Brini to fire away a dangerous shot which Banon Cassin despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 78th minute Alfonso De Sanctis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Banon Cassin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 80 minutes into the game, Diego Maradona cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. Daniele Cagnetta was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Italy's Fortunato Vettori was substituted for Hernán Crespo. Beppe Ferraro took the ball and in the 85 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Banon Cassin. Banon Cassin dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-2. An unexpectedly hard shot by Diego Maradona in the 87th minute of play forced Italy's goalkeeper Daniele Cagnetta to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Beppe Ferraro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The Ireland players were the happier at the end of the match as they had prevented Italy from taking control. The game ends in a draw.