National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) U21 Mexico's Bonifacio Odilon 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. In the 2nd minute Pavel Alexandru shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Atilano Barros saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. U21 Mexico's Atilano Barros played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mugurel Banica in the 10th minute of play. With a little luck, U21 Romania's Nicu Roman got control of the ball when Bonifacio Odilon tried to sneak it across the goal line. Landon Donovan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nicu Roman having to interfere. Nicu Roman made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Landon Donovan in the 23rd minute of play. Nicasio Llanos hit a great freekick 23 minutes into the match. U21 Mexico's Atilano Barros played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ioan Lițiu in the 26th minute of play. Atilano Barros showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pavel Alexandru in the 27th minute of the match. In the 28th minute of the match U21 Romania got a corner. U21 Mexico's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Aurel Chevereșan ran over to the corner to take the kick. Petrică Nistor received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Atilano Barros tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 32ndth minute of the game Pavel Alexandru who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Mexico's Atilano Barros was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 38 minutes into the match, U21 Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Ioan Lițiu came free, but Atilano Barros reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 39th minute U21 Romania were awarded a corner. Aurel Chevereșan went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led U21 Romania's Aurel Chevereșan to fire away a dangerous shot which Atilano Barros despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Nicu Roman showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Landon Donovan, who was totally free with the ball in the 42nd minute. After 43 played minutes U21 Mexico got a freekick which was hit by Bonifacio Odilon. Landon Donovan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 47th minute. Nicu Roman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Pavel Alexandru made a kick off. After some careless play in the U21 Romania defense, Landon Donovan kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Nicu Roman. The U21 Romania fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Nicu Roman should have stopped the shot. Nicu Roman showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Landon Donovan in the 56th minute of the match. After 59 minutes U21 Romania's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Alfredo Tena who took care of the corner kick. A nice corner shot did that Bonifacio Odilon got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Nicu Roman quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. U21 Romania's Vlad Opaina was substituted for Dragoş Todea. U21 Romania made a substitution. Robert Enache replaced Ioan Lițiu. In the 66th minute, Nicasio Llanos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. U21 Mexico's Santo Mambru was substituted for Alex Aguinaga. The supporters of U21 Romania booed when U21 Mexico was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 68 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nicasio Llanos didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fidel Beltxe in the 74th minute of play forced U21 Romania's goalkeeper Nicu Roman to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Albert Spineanu struck a weak shot in the 76th minute. Atilano Barros didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 Romania. In the 78th minute of the match, Pavel Alexandru got a very nice opportunity to score, but Atilano Barros was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. In the 80th minute, John-Paul Motowski ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Nicu Roman was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. After 84 minutes, Nicasio Llanos mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Mexico and the U21 Romania players grew even worse after the yellow card. Atilano Barros stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Pavel Alexandru's shot from short distance in the 94th minute. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. U21 Mexico had won after a very even match.