National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Ter Stegen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nicolae Ceaușescu in the 5th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Petrică Manea in the 6th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ter Stegen saved U21 Ireland from getting behind. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Petrică Manea in the 6th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ter Stegen saved U21 Ireland from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nicolae Ceaușescu in the 8th minute of play forced U21 Ireland's goalkeeper Ter Stegen to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 9 minutes into the match, U21 Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Cristian Baniu came free, but Ter Stegen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The corner ended in Ernest Niculescu almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but U21 Ireland's Ter Stegen did a great save. Ferdinand Zmărăndache kicked well hit freekick during the 18th minute of the match. Cristian Vladimirescu was a little too slow when John Keegan got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 21st minute. The score was now 1-1. John Keegan received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Cristian Vladimirescu came out and tried to block the shot, but John Keegan slotted it home off the left post making it 2-1 in the 24th minute. In the 27th minute Nicolae Ceaușescu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ter Stegen saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 36th minute U21 Ireland were awarded a corner. Ricard McGlynn went to the cornerflag to take it. Mack Willson was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. 38 minutes into the match, U21 Romania's goalkeeper Cristian Vladimirescu had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by John Keegan. After 42 minutes of play, U21 Romania's Ferdinand Zmărăndache made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ter Stegen was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Petrică Manea had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 44th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Ter Stegen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nicolae Ceaușescu in the 47th minute of play. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Petrică Manea made a kick off. In the 58th minute Marc McManaman shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristian Vladimirescu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. U21 Romania's Cristian Vladimirescu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Marc McManaman in the 58th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in U21 Romania's zone, John Keegan stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Cristian Vladimirescu came out of the goal and John Keegan tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. U21 Romania made a substitution. Alexandru Racoviță replaced Cristian Baniu. U21 Romania made a substitution. Aristide Cosoreanu replaced Petrică Manea. Cristian Vladimirescu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marc McManaman, who was totally free with the ball in the 67th minute. Cristian Vladimirescu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marc McManaman, who was totally free with the ball in the 67th minute. Marc McManaman took the ball and in the 69 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Cristian Vladimirescu. Cristian Vladimirescu dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-2. U21 Ireland made a substitution. Baird Kirby replaced Aengus McPaul. In the 73rd minute, Alaa Negru left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The U21 Romania fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-3. 78 minutes into the match, U21 Romania's Aristide Cosoreanu broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Cristian Vladimirescu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from John Keegan, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. Cristian Vladimirescu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marc McManaman, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. U21 Ireland's Ricard McGlynn was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Cristian Vladimirescu in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Cristian Vladimirescu stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of John Keegan's shot from short distance in the 86th minute. 89 minutes into the match, U21 Ireland's goalkeeper Ter Stegen had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Aristide Cosoreanu. Through an outstanding action, after 90 minutes, Ter Stegen successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Cristian Vladimirescu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from John Keegan in the 91st minute of play. In the 93rd minute, Alaa Negru reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Ter Stegen. The goal made the score 3-4.