National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Vadim Andrienko got the match started through his kick off. In the 2nd minute, Georgiy Voroshilov hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. George Gribincea showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vadim Andrienko, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. Aleksandr Ivannikov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Daniel Perju in the 13th minute of the match. Leonid Afteni came free with the goalkeeper in the 14th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Aleksandr Ivannikov could save by the left post. In the 15th minute of the match Moldova got a corner. Russia's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Octavian Eremciuc ran over to the corner to take the kick. Moldova's George Gribincea played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Georgiy Voroshilov in the 23rd minute of play. 26 minutes into the match, Moldova's goal looked a bit too open when Evgeniy Kobeko came free, but George Gribincea reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. George Gribincea took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Georgiy Voroshilov, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 29 minutes of play, Moldova's Leonid Afteni made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Aleksandr Ivannikov was left in no man's land by his defense there! Leonid Aftenis short, quick shot in the 31stth minute got Aleksandr Ivannikov to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. If Vadim Andrienko had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Daniel Perju in the 35th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Aleksandr Ivannikov prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 37 minutes Russia's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Octavian Eremciuc who took care of the corner kick. Octavian Eremciuc made a great header on Moldova's corner, it was just that Russia's Aleksandr Ivannikov managed to reach the ball for a save. Denis Lazãr's late challenge caught a Russia's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Denis Lazãr helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Moldova's Denis Lazãr got a free kick in the 38th minute. Daniel Perju could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 39th minute of the match, but Aleksandr Ivannikov made a huge save. Leonid Afteni struck a weak shot in the 42nd minute. Aleksandr Ivannikov didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Moldova. The long shot by Marius Cerbu in the 46th minute really tested Aleksandr Ivannikov's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal.

With a little luck, Moldova's George Gribincea got control of the ball when Evgeniy Kobeko tried to sneak it across the goal line. Aleksandr Ivannikov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Leonid Afteni in the 57th minute of the match. Sergey Zhdanov hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. Moldova's Octavian Eremciuc was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Aleksandr Ivannikov in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. In the 63rd minute, Vadim Andrienko left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Russia fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Moldova's Eduard Gribincea was substituted for Vitalie Cotofanã. Aleksandr Ivannikov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dorin Pârlea in the 68th minute of the match. Aleksandr Ivannikov showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dorin Pârlea, who was totally free with the ball in the 69th minute. George Gribincea made a fantastic save in the 75th minute, when Vladimir Moskvin sent off a good shot on target. If Evgeniy Kobeko had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 76th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Aleksandr Ivannikov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dorin Pârlea in the 79th minute of the match. Aleksandr Ivannikov showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dorin Pârlea in the 84th minute of the match. 92 minutes into the match, Russia's goal looked a bit too open when Daniel Perju came free, but Aleksandr Ivannikov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Moldova's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Dorin Pârlea in the 93rd minute. The supporters of Moldova booed when Russia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 96 match minutes in a wonderful position. Roman Evgeniev didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 97th minute, Daniel Perju 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. Russia's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.