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 Pablo Ribeiro took the kick off in the first half of the match. After a defensive mix-up in El Salvador's zone, Brandon McLiam stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Christian García came out of the goal and Brandon McLiam tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Christian García showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Brandon McLiam, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. Christian García took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Brandon McLiam, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Giles Dalton got free with Christian García in the 22nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Christian García stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Brandon McLiam's shot from short distance in the 24th minute. Brennan Dunne showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Salvador Espindola, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Baltazar Pacheco in the 30th minute of play forced Ireland's goalkeeper Brennan Dunne to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 38th minute, Brandon McLiam 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. Ireland's Brennan Dunne played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jonathan Barrios in the 44th minute of play. Christian García made an important save on a dangerous shot by Brandon McLiam in the 46th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Brandon McLiam got free with Christian García in the 47th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Brandon McLiam was the one to do the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luis Mena in the 52nd minute of play forced Ireland's goalkeeper Brennan Dunne to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 54 minutes into the match, Ireland's Brandon McLiam sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Christian García narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Christian García made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Brandon McLiam in the 58th minute of play. Brennan Dunne stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Pablo Ribeiro's shot from short distance in the 63rd minute. When El Salvador's Baltazar Pacheco in the 66th minute got a chance for a shot 66th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ireland's goalie prevented a goal. El Salvador made a substitution. Eliseo Padilla replaced Jorge Magić. Mohamed Salvador got a throw-in 69 minutes in the game and the ball was received by Luis Mena. Christian García showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Brandon McLiam in the 72nd minute of the match. 73 minutes into the match, Ireland's goalkeeper Brennan Dunne had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Josue Fornos. Pablo Ribeiro could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 75th minute of the match, but Brennan Dunne made a huge save. Ireland's Brennan Dunne played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Josue Fornos in the 76th minute of play. 79 minutes into the match, Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Salvador Espindola came free, but Brennan Dunne reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The throw-in from Mohamed Salvador in the 82nd minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by Ireland's Aaron McSteve. In the 83rd minute the ball was on its way in behind El Salvador's goalkeeper Christian García, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 85 minutes in the game, Pablo Ribeiro fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Brennan Dunne having to interfere. 88 minutes into the match, Brandon McLiam had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Christian García. El Salvador's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Brandon McLiam was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-0. Pablo Ribeiro took the ball and in the 93 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Brennan Dunne. Brennan Dunne dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. For all the effort they put into the match, the El Salvador players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Ireland.