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 Nicky Stapleton took the kick off in the first half of the match. When Komen Schotte came up free with the goalie in the 3rd minute, the U21 Netherlands fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Komen Schotte couldn't finish the play. Maurice Heide kicked well hit freekick during the 7th minute of the match. U21 United States's Darío Campos got a good chance for a goal in the 7th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 15 minutes of play, U21 Netherlands's Komen Schotte made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. J.C. Barker was left in no man's land by his defense there! An unexpectedly hard shot by Hans Anders in the 18th minute of play forced U21 United States's goalkeeper J.C. Barker to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nicky Stapleton in the 20th minute of play forced U21 Netherlands's goalkeeper Albert Mans to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some careless play in the U21 United States defense, Komen Schotte kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of J.C. Barker. The U21 United States fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that J.C. Barker should have stopped the shot. 24 minutes into the match, U21 United States's goal looked a bit too open when Hans Anders came free, but J.C. Barker reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wouter Averdijk in the 30th minute of play forced U21 United States's goalkeeper J.C. Barker to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Guillermo McDaniel kicked well hit freekick during the 31st minute of the match. J.C. Barker showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Wouter Averdijk in the 34th minute of the match. J.C. Barker made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Komen Schotte in the 36th minute of play. In the 42nd minute Hans Anders shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but J.C. Barker saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of U21 United States booed when U21 Netherlands was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 44 match minutes in a wonderful position. Matthijs Ebbinge didn't get a good kick on the ball. A collision led to U21 United States getting a freekick after 47 minutes play. Geoff Mullen hit a great ball. U21 Netherlands made a substitution. Martien Overmars replaced Komen Schotte. After a rather tough play, U21 United States's Geoff Mullen got a free kick in the 48th minute. After the first half U21 Netherlands were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Hans Anders made the kick off in the second half. U21 United States's J.C. Barker proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 53rd minute of the match, managed to save U21 United States from getting a goal against them. The supporters of U21 United States booed when U21 Netherlands was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Matthijs Ebbinge didn't get a good kick on the ball. Tony Pacheco fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Albert Mans having to interfere. 60 minutes into the match, U21 Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Shelton Flanagan came free, but Albert Mans reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Wouter Averdijk could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 63rd minute of the match, but J.C. Barker made a huge save. The audience was convinced that Hans Anders's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but J.C. Barker was relentless in the 63rd minute of the game. Albert Mans took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Shelton Flanagan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 67th minute, Wesley Brand managed to get in a good position for a shot. U21 United States's supporters rose to their feet, but Wesley Brand was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Albert Mans breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. J.C. Barker made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Wouter Averdijk in the 70th minute of play. J.C. Barker made an important save on a dangerous shot by Wouter Averdijk in the 72nd minute. Matthijs Ebbinge kicked well hit freekick during the 79th minute of the match. 80 minutes into the match, U21 Netherlands's goal looked a bit too open when Nicky Stapleton came free, but Albert Mans reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 85th match minute, U21 United States was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Geoff Mullen to maneuver through the defense. After recieving a nice pass, U21 Netherlands's Maikel Jol tried to score from far away in the 86th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. The supporters of U21 United States booed when U21 Netherlands was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 92 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hans Anders didn't get a good kick on the ball. Tony Pacheco fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 96th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Albert Mans having to interfere. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched U21 Netherlands eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.