National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10301 (Terracing: 7726, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Tony Willman made the kick off which started today's match. A collision led to U21 Canada getting a freekick after 2 minutes play. Quinn Kendall hit a great ball. In the 3rd minute of the match Esa Möksy shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Herschel Grondin showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. When U21 Canada's Emmanuel McNeill in the 4th minute got a chance for a shot 4th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Finland's goalie prevented a goal. Tony Willman received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Herschel Grondin came out and tried to block the shot, but Tony Willman slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 6th minute. In the 9th match minute, U21 Finland was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tony Willman to maneuver through the defense. Emmanuel McNeill received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 10th minute. Keimo Lindfors tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Tony Willman received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Herschel Grondin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tony Willman got free with Herschel Grondin in the 14th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Tony Willman scored 2-0 in the 15th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Herschel Grondin, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Tony Willman let the left foot speak when in front of goal in the 18th minute shot 3-0 at rihgt post. After 20 played minutes U21 Finland got a freekick which was hit by Esa Möksy. In the 21st minute of the match Leopoldo Hathaway shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Keimo Lindfors showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Emmanuel McNeill in the 23rd minute of play forced U21 Finland's goalkeeper Keimo Lindfors to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Keimo Lindfors took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zackary Sorensen, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 28 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Finland's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Leopoldo Hathaway was slow to take the kick. During this time U21 Canada's players had a chance to rest. U21 Canada's Emmanuel McNeill was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Keimo Lindfors in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Tony Willman could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 29th minute of the match, but Herschel Grondin made a huge save. In the 32nd minute Zackary Sorensen shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Keimo Lindfors saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 35th minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Canada's goalkeeper Herschel Grondin, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. If Zackary Sorensen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. U21 Finland's Keimo Lindfors played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Walton Fréchette in the 41st minute of play. Tony Willman struck a weak shot in the 44th minute. Herschel Grondin didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 Finland. In the 47th minute, Jeremias Kokkonen hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Walton Fréchette was the one to do the kick off. Herschel Grondin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tony Willman, who was totally free with the ball in the 53rd minute. In the 55th minute Walton Fréchette shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Keimo Lindfors saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Keimo Lindfors didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 56th minute, which inside left pole to 3-1. 60 minutes into the match, U21 Canada's goal looked a bit too open when Tony Willman came free, but Herschel Grondin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to U21 Canada getting a freekick after 60 minutes play. Quinn Kendall hit a great ball. Herschel Grondin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tony Willman, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. When Jalal Potkin fell near the penalty area in the 67th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 Finland's protests and gave Jalal Potkin a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, U21 Finland's Jalal Potkin got a free kick in the 67th minute. Emmanuel McNeill kicked well hit freekick during the 68th minute of the match. Keimo Lindfors showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Zackary Sorensen in the 72nd minute of the match. 74 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Finland's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Leopoldo Hathaway was slow to take the kick. During this time U21 Canada's players had a chance to rest. The corner went over the outstretched arms of U21 Finland's goalie and right to Emmanuel McNeill. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. U21 Finland's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. A collision led to U21 Finland getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Esa Möksy hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Walton Fréchette in the 77th minute of play forced U21 Finland's goalkeeper Keimo Lindfors to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Keimo Lindfors made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Walton Fréchette in the 81st minute of play. In the 86th minute of the match U21 Finland got a corner. U21 Canada's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Sami Jämsä ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led U21 Finland's Sami Jämsä to fire away a dangerous shot which Herschel Grondin despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 88th minute, Zackary Sorensen managed to get in a good position for a shot. U21 Canada's supporters rose to their feet, but Zackary Sorensen was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Keimo Lindfors breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Herschel Grondin showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Hannu Palolahti in the 95th minute of the match.