National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Elia Nazzaro kicked off to start the match. In the 3rd minute, Dario Roberto hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to U21 Paraguay getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Bernebe Abendaño hit a great ball. In the 7thth minute of the game Francesco Sammartano who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Paraguay's Fernando Archundía was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. The supporters of U21 Italy booed when U21 Paraguay was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 10 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bernebe Abendaño didn't get a good kick on the ball. Fernando Archundía showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Elia Ballerini in the 12th minute of the match. Francesco Sammartano kicked well hit freekick during the 13th minute of the match. If Eulalio Ozuna had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of U21 Paraguay booed when U21 Italy was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 16 match minutes in a wonderful position. Elia Ballerini didn't get a good kick on the ball. Donato Bucci made a fantastic save in the 18th minute, when Eulalio Ozuna sent off a good shot on target. The audience thought a goal was coming when Eulalio Ozuna got free with Donato Bucci in the 18th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After a rather tough play, U21 Paraguay's Junior Cardozo got a free kick in the 26th minute. 26 minutes into the match, U21 Paraguay's goal looked a bit too open when Francesco Sammartano came free, but Fernando Archundía reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ekhi Bernal hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. A collision led to U21 Paraguay getting a freekick after 36 minutes play. Victor Hugo Maiz hit a great ball. After having played for 37 minutes, Francesco Sammartano managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Italy's supporters crossed their fingers, but Francesco Sammartano was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 39th match minute, U21 Paraguay was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Feliberto Valderrama to maneuver through the defense. In the 40th minute of the match Concetto Azzolina shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Fernando Archundía showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. 41 minutes into the game, U21 Italy's Francesco Sammartano nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Fernando Archundía made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. The audience thought a goal was coming when Jorge Toledo got free with Donato Bucci in the 47th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 47th match minute, U21 Italy was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Elia Ballerini to maneuver through the defense. The U21 Paraguay players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. U21 Italy were winning 0-2.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Eulalio Ozuna was the one to do the kick off. The supporters of U21 Italy booed when U21 Paraguay was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 61 match minutes in a wonderful position. Junior Cardozo didn't get a good kick on the ball. U21 Paraguay's Sergio Rodríguez was substituted for Norberto Paza. U21 Italy's Fulvio Talamo was substituted for Francesco Sammartano. U21 Italy's Andrea Di Donato was substituted for Fortunato Froněk. U21 Paraguay's Joel Rojas was substituted for Ado Dueñas. A collision led to U21 Paraguay getting a freekick after 63 minutes play. Junior Cardozo hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fulvio Talamo in the 64th minute of play forced U21 Paraguay's goalkeeper Fernando Archundía to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Elia Ballerini had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in U21 Paraguay's zone, Fulvio Talamo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Fernando Archundía came out of the goal and Fulvio Talamo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. U21 Italy made a substitution. Fabio Quadrini replaced Demetrio Cacciatore. Joel Rojas hit a great freekick 71 minutes into the match. U21 Paraguay's Fernando Archundía played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Fulvio Talamo in the 71st minute of play. After a rather tough play, U21 Paraguay's Bernebe Abendaño got a free kick in the 77th minute. Fernando Archundía showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Elia Ballerini in the 80th minute of the match. Fernando Archundía took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fulvio Talamo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the last second Fernando Archundía throw himself and got hold of the ball when Fulvio Talamo in the 86thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. 89 minutes into the match, U21 Paraguay's goalkeeper Fernando Archundía had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Concetto Azzolina. The U21 Italy supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing U21 Italy would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.