National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) U21 Finland's Osmo Ripatti started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. U21 Finland's Reino Piekkanen proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 4th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Finland from getting a goal against them. In the 8th minute, Dalius Alekveravičius got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. U21 Finland's defense didn't have a chance, in the 11th minute, when Adolfas Vaičius scored to the left of an out of position Reino Piekkanen, making the score, 1-0. Germanas Raugalas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Reino Piekkanen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bernardas Kuzminskas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 24th minute, Einari Pelttari hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Adolfas Vaičius could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 25th minute of the match, but Reino Piekkanen made a huge save. When U21 Finland's Einari Pelttari in the 30th minute got a chance for a shot 30th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Lithuania's goalie prevented a goal. Dalius Alekveravičius hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. After a rather tough play, U21 Lithuania's Feliksas Paliulis got a free kick in the 37th minute. In the 39th minute Germanas Raugalas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Reino Piekkanen saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Einari Pelttari hit a great freekick 45 minutes into the match.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Germanas Raugalas to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 51st minute Einari Pelttari shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tomas Vaineikis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Reino Piekkanen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Feliksas Paliulis, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Osmo Ripattis short, quick shot in the 57thth minute got Tomas Vaineikis to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. After 58 minutes, Urmas Kuparinen mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Finland and the U21 Lithuania players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 58 played minutes U21 Finland got a freekick which was hit by Urmas Kuparinen. In the 59th minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Finland's goalkeeper Reino Piekkanen, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 61 minutes into the match, Germanas Raugalas had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Reino Piekkanen. U21 Finland's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Germanas Raugalas was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-0. After 67 played minutes U21 Finland got a freekick which was hit by Tommi Riihijärvi. With a little luck, U21 Lithuania's Tomas Vaineikis got control of the ball when Ernesti Kuokkanen tried to sneak it across the goal line. 78 minutes into the match, U21 Finland's goal looked a bit too open when Germanas Raugalas came free, but Reino Piekkanen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. U21 Lithuania's Tomas Vaineikis proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 80th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Lithuania from getting a goal against them. Tomas Vaineikis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tarmo Vehmanen in the 81st minute of the match. U21 Finland's Kepa Anush was substituted for Osmo Ripatti. In the 93rd minute there was a penalty for U21 Lithuania. Germanas Raugalas stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Reino Piekkanen. 4-0.