National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10313 (Terracing: 7735, Seating: 2372, VIP seats: 206) After a rather tough play, U21 Belgium's Tijmen Laurier got a free kick in the 7th minute. In the 10th minute Raymond Van Beetz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dennis Zuidema saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of U21 Netherlands booed when U21 Belgium was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 11 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lode Jacob didn't get a good kick on the ball. Pierre-Paul Van Dijck showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Emile Hadders, who was totally free with the ball in the 12th minute. In the 16th minute, U21 Belgium's Raymond Van Beetz ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Dennis Zuidema. Dennis Zuidema yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. U21 Netherlands's Dennis Zuidema proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 20th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Netherlands from getting a goal against them. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Raymond Van Beetz in the 23rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dennis Zuidema prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 27th minute U21 Netherlands were awarded a corner. Mathias Mol went to the cornerflag to take it. Raymond Van Beetz came free with the goalkeeper in the 30th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Dennis Zuidema could save by the left post. Raymond Van Beetz could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 34th minute of the match, but Dennis Zuidema made a huge save. U21 Netherlands's Dennis Zuidema proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 34th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Netherlands from getting a goal against them. 35 minutes into the match, U21 Belgium's goal looked a bit too open when Martijn Willems came free, but Pierre-Paul Van Dijck reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dennis Zuidema made a fantastic save in the 41st minute, when Raymond Van Beetz sent off a good shot on target. The supporters of U21 Netherlands booed when U21 Belgium was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 43 match minutes in a wonderful position. Stephen Pardons didn't get a good kick on the ball. Raymond Van Beetz sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Pierre-Paul Van Dijck didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Ernst Hoogendorp went, in the 47th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Tijmen Laurier to make the kick off. Dennis Zuidema made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Raymond Van Beetz in the 57th minute of play. After a rather tough play, U21 Belgium's Sam De Langhe got a free kick in the 59th minute. Emile Hadders spun around in front of the goal 60 minutes in the game, and got away a shot that, to his disappointment, went to the left of U21 Belgium's goal. Dennis Zuidema showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Raymond Van Beetz in the 71st minute of the match. In the 85th play minute Ernst Hoogendorp came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Pierre-Paul Van Dijck. 2-3. In the 90th minute, Raymond Van Beetz ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Dennis Zuidema was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-3. In the 97th minute, Tijmen Laurier left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The U21 Belgium fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 4-3. The home crowd let out a huge roar when the referee blew for the end of the game. U21 Belgium were victorious despite being under pressure from U21 Netherlands for much of the match.