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 Meshal Al Naqi took the kick off in the first half of the match. Den Swain made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Meshal Al Naqi in the 3rd minute of play. After a rather tough play, U21 Luxembourg's Mattias Pilgrim got a free kick in the 3rd minute. If Mattias Pilgrim had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 8th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. U21 Luxembourg's Den Swain played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Aamir Kakoli in the 10th minute of play. With 11 minutes on the clock, Henry Flack commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. Mattias Pilgrim received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Dawood Mandane came out and tried to block the shot, but Mattias Pilgrim slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 14th minute. After some careless play in the U21 Luxembourg defense, Aamir Kakoli kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Den Swain. The U21 Luxembourg fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Den Swain should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Meshal Al Naqi in the 23rd minute of play forced U21 Luxembourg's goalkeeper Den Swain to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of U21 Saudi Arabia booed when U21 Luxembourg was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 23 match minutes in a wonderful position. Recep Vatansever didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a rather tough play, U21 Saudi Arabia's Meshal Al Naqi got a free kick in the 24th minute. 27 minutes into the match, Aamir Kakoli had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Den Swain. U21 Luxembourg's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Aamir Kakoli was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-2. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Meshal Al Naqi in the 30th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Den Swain prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 36th minute Shehab Al Mahmed shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Den Swain saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 38 minutes in the game, Mattias Pilgrim dribbled his way through the penalty area and after maneuvering past an opponent, drilled a quick shot at the goal. The ball looked like it was going in, but it was hit a bit too hard and flew over the goal. 43 minutes into the match, U21 Luxembourg's goal looked a bit too open when Saleh Ashkanani came free, but Den Swain reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. U21 Luxembourg's Den Swain played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mubarek Al Banai in the 45th minute of play. Disappointed in the 1-3 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 Mattias Pilgrim stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. U21 Luxembourg's Den Swain played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mubarek Al Banai in the 51st minute of play. Den Swain was a little too slow when Meshal Al Naqi got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 55th minute. The score was now 1-4. 58 minutes into the game, Meshal Al Naqi recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Den Swain. Meshal Al Naqi showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-5. Den Swain took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Aamir Kakoli, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 68th minute Garry Hay shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dawood Mandane saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Den Swain made a fantastic save in the 71st minute, when Msaed Baroun sent off a good shot on target. An unexpectedly hard shot by Recep Vatansever in the 73rd minute of play forced U21 Saudi Arabia's goalkeeper Dawood Mandane to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 80th minute, U21 Saudi Arabia's Aamir Kakoli dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-6. If Sobah Hayat had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Den Swain made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Aamir Kakoli in the 89th minute of play. Den Swain took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Msaed Baroun, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 91 minutes into the match, U21 Luxembourg's goalkeeper Den Swain had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Aamir Kakoli. The supporters of U21 Luxembourg booed when U21 Saudi Arabia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 92 match minutes in a wonderful position. Msaed Baroun didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Mattias Pilgrim fell near the penalty area in the 94th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 Luxembourg's protests and gave Mattias Pilgrim a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of U21 Saudi Arabia booed when U21 Luxembourg was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 94 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mattias Pilgrim didn't get a good kick on the ball.