National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10301 (Terracing: 7726, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) In the 4th minute, U21 Portugal's Leonel Paiva ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Tzvetan Polihronov. Tzvetan Polihronov yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. The U21 Portugal fans' excitement grew in the 10th match minute when U21 Portugal's Leonel Paiva looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 2-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. U21 Portugal's Leonel Paiva got a good chance for a goal in the 13th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After some careless play in the U21 Bulgaria defense, Leonel Paiva kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Tzvetan Polihronov. The U21 Bulgaria fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Tzvetan Polihronov should have stopped the shot. Tzvetan Polihronov was out of position in the 20 minute of play, and Leonel Paiva capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Leonel Paiva really showed his touch with that goal: 4-0. Leonel Paivas short, quick shot in the 23rdth minute got Tzvetan Polihronov to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 26th minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Bulgaria's goalkeeper Tzvetan Polihronov, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Leonel Paiva in the 36th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Tzvetan Polihronov saved U21 Bulgaria from getting behind. With a little luck, U21 Bulgaria's Tzvetan Polihronov got control of the ball when Leonel Paiva tried to sneak it across the goal line. Leonel Paiva who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 42ndth minute tested the skills of Tzvetan Polihronov when he managed to save the team from getting behind. After 46 minutes of play, U21 Portugal's Leonel Paiva made it 5-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Tzvetan Polihronov was left in no man's land by his defense there! The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 5-0 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Geno Vakarelski made a kick off. Leonel Paiva blasted a shot towards the goal in the 51st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Tzvetan Polihronov having to make a save. Tzvetan Polihronov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Leonel Paiva in the 51st minute of play. Yuli Balyuchev received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 53rd minute. Rúben Santiago tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When U21 Portugal's Leonel Paiva in the 55th minute got a chance for a shot 55th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Bulgaria's goalie prevented a goal. When U21 Portugal's Leonel Paiva in the 55th minute got a chance for a shot 55th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Bulgaria's goalie prevented a goal. Sálvio Guarda kicked well hit freekick during the 56th minute of the match. After 68 played minutes U21 Portugal got a freekick which was hit by Donato Caetano. After 69 played minutes U21 Portugal got a freekick which was hit by Donato Caetano. Leonel Paiva might have been able to make a better finish in the 78th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Tzvetan Polihronov. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Leonel Paiva ran back to his position shaking his head. An unexpectedly hard shot by Leonel Paiva in the 78th minute of play forced U21 Bulgaria's goalkeeper Tzvetan Polihronov to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Tzvetan Polihronov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Leonel Paiva in the 79th minute of the match. When U21 Portugal's Leonel Paiva in the 82nd minute got a chance for a shot 82nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Bulgaria's goalie prevented a goal. U21 Portugal made a substitution. Sérgio Leal replaced Leonel Paiva. U21 Portugal's Óscar Varela was substituted for Sálvio Guarda. U21 Portugal's attentive Severiano Madureira managed to snatch the ball when Denko Sergeev made a throw-in in the 87th minute of the game. Tzvetan Polihronov didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Sérgio Leal went, in the 91st minute, to the upper right corner, 7-0 was the resulting score. When the referee ended the match the U21 Portugal players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.