National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Bardon McNamee made the kick off which started today's match. Bairrionn Callaghan showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Petrică Albu in the 4th minute of the match. After having played for 9 minutes, Sebastian Vidican managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Romania's supporters crossed their fingers, but Sebastian Vidican was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Tady Costello kicked well hit freekick during the 10th minute of the match. Petrică Albu scored 0-1 in the 11th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Bairrionn Callaghan, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 14 minutes into the match, U21 Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Petru Joldea came free, but Bairrionn Callaghan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Bairrionn Callaghan showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Petru Joldea, who was totally free with the ball in the 16th minute. U21 Ireland's Bairrionn Callaghan played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Horea Bilașco in the 19th minute of play. If Petru Joldea had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 20th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Horea Bilașco came up free with the goalie in the 32nd minute, the U21 Romania fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Horea Bilașco couldn't finish the play. Bairrionn Callaghan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Petru Joldea in the 34th minute of play. 35 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Ireland's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Laurențiu Bănățeanu was slow to take the kick. During this time U21 Romania's players had a chance to rest. After some fancy dribbling in the 39th minute, Sebastian Vidican managed to get in a good position for a shot. U21 Romania's supporters rose to their feet, but Sebastian Vidican was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Bairrionn Callaghan breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by Petru Joldea in the 40th minute of play forced U21 Ireland's goalkeeper Bairrionn Callaghan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 42 minutes into the match, U21 Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Horea Bilașco came free, but Bairrionn Callaghan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 47 minutes into the match, Petrică Albu had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Bairrionn Callaghan. U21 Ireland's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Petrică Albu was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Petru Joldea stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After 52 minutes, Peter Bayes mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Ireland and the U21 Romania players grew even worse after the yellow card. Peter Bayes kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. Petru Joldea who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 54thth minute tested the skills of Bairrionn Callaghan when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Petru Joldea could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 55th minute of the match, but Bairrionn Callaghan made a huge save. In the 56th minute U21 Romania were awarded a corner. Laurențiu Bănățeanu went to the cornerflag to take it. Vasile Şoimaru took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bardon McNamee, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Bairrionn Callaghan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Horea Bilașco, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, U21 Ireland's Tady Costello got a free kick in the 61st minute. Petrică Albu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 62nd minute. Bairrionn Callaghan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. U21 Ireland's Glenn Perth was substituted for Tady Costello. U21 Ireland's Briain Hunt was substituted for Pierson Duggan. 71 minutes into the game, Glenn Perth cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-2. Vasile Şoimaru was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Vasile Şoimaru showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Peter Bayes, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. U21 Romania's Dragoş Minda was substituted for Petrică Albu. After some fancy dribbling in the 78th minute, Bressail McIan managed to get in a good position for a shot. U21 Ireland's supporters rose to their feet, but Bressail McIan was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Vasile Şoimaru breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Vasile Leluțiu could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 81st minute of the match, but Bairrionn Callaghan made a huge save. Bairrionn Callaghan was a little too slow when Dragoş Minda got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 82nd minute. The score was now 2-3. Vasile Şoimaru made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bardon McNamee in the 86th minute of play. Vasile Leluțiu could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 88th minute of the match, but Bairrionn Callaghan made a huge save. The nice shot from Vasile Leluțiu in the 88thth minute just in front of the goal should have ended in point on the board, but Bairrionn Callaghan had a great feel for the game and superbly saved the ball from getting in by the left post. When U21 Romania's Vasile Leluțiu, in the 88th minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for U21 Romania. Bairrionn Callaghan made an important save on a dangerous shot by Vasile Leluțiu in the 90th minute. 92 minutes into the match, U21 Ireland's goalkeeper Bairrionn Callaghan had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Vasile Leluțiu. 96 minutes into the game, Emanuel Alexiu recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Bairrionn Callaghan. Emanuel Alexiu showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-4.