National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Enrico Fiori took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 3rd minute of the match, Tarmo Vehmanen tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Ercole De Sisti saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Christian Shaarawy recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 4th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Aatami Kangaskorpi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 10th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 13th minute Christian Shaarawy 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. Reino Piekkanen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Christian Shaarawy, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 22 minutes into the game, Petri Alatalo was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. U21 Finland's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave U21 Italy the free kick. In the 22nd minute, Petri Alatalo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. U21 Italy's Ercole De Sisti played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Tarmo Vehmanen in the 24th minute of play. Arrigo Russi hit a great freekick 26 minutes into the match. Aatto Heinola fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ercole De Sisti having to interfere. When U21 Italy's Christian Shaarawy in the 29th minute got a chance for a shot 29th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Finland's goalie prevented a goal. Reino Piekkanen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Enrico Fiori, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. U21 Italy's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Marco Tardelli in the 32nd minute. U21 Finland's Osmo Ripatti got a good chance for a goal in the 42nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Reino Piekkanen came out of the goal in the 46th minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Italy's Christian Shaarawy. But to his dismay, Christian Shaarawy quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1.

A collision led to U21 Finland getting a freekick after 54 minutes play. Petri Alatalo hit a great ball. Reino Piekkanen made an important save on a dangerous shot by Alvaro Morata in the 55th minute. Christian Shaarawy struck a weak shot in the 59th minute. Reino Piekkanen didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 Italy. The goalkeeper, Reino Piekkanen, was totally fooled by U21 Italy's Christian Shaarawy, who 64 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. U21 Italy's Dario Sciotto was substituted for Marco Tardelli. Pyry Jylhä made in the 69th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Tarmo Vehmanen immediately put the ball in play. Tommi Riihijärvi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ercole De Sisti having to interfere. The crowd rose to their feet as Anthony Marcon kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Reino Piekkanen. That made the score 1-3 in the 74 minute of play. U21 Finland's Kepa Anush was substituted for Osmo Ripatti. If Tarmo Vehmanen had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. U21 Finland's Reino Piekkanen played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Anthony Marcon in the 83rd minute of play. In the 83rd minute, Anthony Marcon fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. U21 Finland's Reino Piekkanen proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 86th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Finland from getting a goal against them. Reino Piekkanen was a little too slow when Alvaro Morata got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 87th minute. The score was now 1-4. Ercole De Sisti came out of the goal in the 92nd minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Finland's Tarmo Vehmanen. But to his dismay, Tarmo Vehmanen quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-4. Anthony Marcon sent away a hard shot on goal in the 98th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. With an all-out effort, U21 Italy's Reino Piekkanen threw himself towards the right post 98 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Anthony Marcon, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Reino Piekkanen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Anthony Marcon, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. U21 Italy had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.