National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10309 (Terracing: 7732, Seating: 2371, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Ryan Giggs made the kick off which started today's match. U21 Australia's Stanley Matthes played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ignacio Meckel in the 2nd minute of play. In the 5th match minute, U21 Costa Rica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rolando Fonseca to maneuver through the defense. Darryl Parker made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ryan Giggs in the 8th minute of play. Darryl Parker didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Tim Cahill went, in the 8th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Adolfo Aguilar's late challenge caught a U21 Australia's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Adolfo Aguilar helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of U21 Australia booed when U21 Costa Rica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 14 match minutes in a wonderful position. Adolfo Aguilar didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some careless play in the U21 Costa Rica defense, Tim Cahill kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Darryl Parker. The U21 Costa Rica fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Darryl Parker should have stopped the shot. Darryl Parker didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Ryan Giggs went, in the 18th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-3 was the resulting score. Darryl Parker took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ryan Giggs, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Rafa Barrantes hit a great freekick 23 minutes into the match. In the 24th minute of the match Bert Cookesley shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Darryl Parker showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Evaristo Coronado received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Stanley Matthes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The audience was convinced that Ryan Giggs's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Darryl Parker was relentless in the 31st minute of the game. Stanley Matthes was out of position in the 33 minute of play, and Ignacio Meckel capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Ignacio Meckel really showed his touch with that goal: 1-3. In the 43rd minute Ryan Giggs shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Darryl Parker saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of U21 Costa Rica booed when U21 Australia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 46 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bert Cookesley didn't get a good kick on the ball. The U21 Costa Rica players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. U21 Australia were winning 1-3.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Ignacio Meckel to strike the kick off in the second half. Pascual Robles fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stanley Matthes having to interfere. Darryl Parker made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tim Cahill in the 55th minute of play. Abraham Twite kicked well hit freekick during the 57th minute of the match. Stanley Matthes showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ignacio Meckel in the 62nd minute of the match. Stanley Matthes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ignacio Meckel, who was totally free with the ball in the 62nd minute. A collision led to U21 Australia getting a freekick after 63 minutes play. Henry Hauser hit a great ball. After 64 played minutes U21 Australia got a freekick which was hit by Alex Colman. Stanley Matthes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Raul Heredia in the 65th minute of play. In the 67th minute Evaristo Coronado shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stanley Matthes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Stanley Matthes showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pascual Robles in the 71st minute of the match. Ryan Giggs fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Darryl Parker having to interfere. A collision led to U21 Australia getting a freekick after 81 minutes play. Alan Petersen hit a great ball. Stanley Matthes stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Rolando Fonseca's shot from short distance in the 85th minute. 87 minutes into the match, U21 Costa Rica's goal looked a bit too open when Tiger Leach came free, but Darryl Parker reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Stanley Matthes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Pascual Robles, who was totally free with the ball in the 88th minute. 90 minutes into the game, Ignacio Meckel cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-3. Stanley Matthes was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 94th minute, Ryan Giggs made a precise shot to the right of Darryl Parker. U21 Costa Rica's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-4. The U21 Australia players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.