National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10305 (Terracing: 7729, Seating: 2370, VIP seats: 206) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Jerzy Niedbalski kicked off to start the match. Jerzy Niedbalski sent away a hard shot on goal in the 4th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. U21 Poland's Przemyslaw Szczęsny played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Marko Livaja in the 5th minute of play. U21 Croatia's Gojko Travar played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Wali Brama in the 6th minute of play. Gojko Travar didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Wali Brama went, in the 6th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. When the match had gone on for 9 minutes, Jerzy Niedbalski put it in 0-2 from a short distance just to the right of Gojko Travar. In the 15th minute, Jerzy Niedbalski ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Gojko Travar was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-3. Marko Livaja who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 20thth minute tested the skills of Przemyslaw Szczęsny when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Jerzy Niedbalski blasted a shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Gojko Travar having to make a save. 25 minutes into the match, U21 Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Jerzy Niedbalski came free, but Gojko Travar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The U21 Poland fans' excitement grew in the 27th match minute when U21 Poland's Jerzy Niedbalski looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-4 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Filip Adžija sent away a hard shot on goal in the 31st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The supporters of U21 Poland booed when U21 Croatia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 32 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marco Materazzi didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jerzy Niedbalski struck a weak shot in the 33rd minute. Gojko Travar didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 Poland. Przemyslaw Szczęsny was a little too slow when Luka Mata got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 36th minute. The score was now 2-4. After a rather tough play, U21 Croatia's Jadranko Šrenger got a free kick in the 45th minute. A throw-in in the 46th minute of the game was made by Marin Košuta with Damjan Viličić as target, who quickly passed the ball forward. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 2-4 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Marko Livaja to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 54th minute Dalibor Kalmeta shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Przemyslaw Szczęsny saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience was convinced that Jerzy Niedbalski's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Gojko Travar was relentless in the 56th minute of the game. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Marko Livaja in the 57th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Przemyslaw Szczęsny prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Wali Brama who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 66thth minute tested the skills of Gojko Travar when he managed to save the team from getting behind. 66 minutes into the game, Wali Brama lined in a short shot 2-6 behind a frustrated Gojko Travar. Marin Košuta made in the 69th minute of the game a sloppy throw-in which Damjan Viličić however managed to control. Gojko Travar showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Adam Nigbor, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. Gojko Travar made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Adam Nigbor in the 72nd minute of play. Adam Nigbor's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Gojko Travar read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 89th minute of play. Adam Nigbor recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 91st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal.