National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10305 (Terracing: 7729, Seating: 2370, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Robert Pirès made the kick off which started today's match. 2 minutes into the game, Hilário Bento was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. U21 Portugal's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave U21 France the free kick. Ahmid Guillaumet took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 3rd minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Cristiano Lage. U21 Portugal's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Bruno Martini didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Salvador Mesquita went, in the 5th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. 10 minutes into the match, U21 Portugal's goal looked a bit too open when Antonin Dagorne came free, but Cristiano Lage reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Cristiano Lage made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Antonin Dagorne in the 11th minute of play. Cristiano Lage showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ahmid Guillaumet in the 12th minute of the match. In the 15th match minute, U21 Portugal was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Yuri Vilaverde to maneuver through the defense. In the 16th minute Antonin Dagorne shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristiano Lage saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Rémi Jacquet got free with Cristiano Lage in the 22nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 24 minutes into the match, U21 Portugal's goalkeeper Cristiano Lage had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Robert Pirès. Bruno Martini showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Raimundo Ventura, who was totally free with the ball in the 27th minute. In the 30th minute Rémi Jacquet shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristiano Lage saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Antonin Dagorne hit a great freekick 31 minutes into the match. U21 Portugal's defense didn't have a chance, in the 35th minute, when Robert Pirès scored to the left of an out of position Cristiano Lage, making the score, 1-1. Bruno Martini took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Raimundo Ventura, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Cristiano Lage showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Robert Pirès in the 40th minute of the match. Robert Pirès took the ball and in the 42 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Cristiano Lage. Cristiano Lage dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. U21 France made a substitution. Ferdinand Linossier replaced Rémi Jacquet. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-1.

U21 Portugal made a substitution. Yuri Portugal replaced Salvador Mesquita. Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Yuri Portugal to make the kick off. Harold Combettes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 53rd minute. Cristiano Lage tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Cristiano Lage showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Robert Pirès in the 55th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in U21 France's zone, Hilário Bento stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Bruno Martini came out of the goal and Hilário Bento tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. U21 France's Hassan Châtelard was substituted for Réda Caillault. Gonçalo Pinho kicked well hit freekick during the 60th minute of the match. U21 Portugal made a substitution. Miguel Veloso replaced Quim Bomba. In the 69th minute, Harold Combettes ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Cristiano Lage was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-1. U21 Portugal's Adriano Seabra was substituted for Hilário Bento. Harold Combettes's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Cristiano Lage read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 74th minute of play. In the 79th minute Raimundo Ventura shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bruno Martini saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. U21 Portugal's Yuri Portugal got a good chance for a goal in the 81st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Filinto Ferro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 83rd minute. Bruno Martini tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Cristiano Lage took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Harold Combettes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some careless play in the U21 France defense, Yuri Vilaverde kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Bruno Martini. The U21 France fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Bruno Martini should have stopped the shot.