National cup

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Mimoun Palić kicked off to start the match. In the 4th minute of the match, Ivan Brůna tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Édouard Mendy saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. The crowd rose to their feet as U21 Czech Republic's Mimoun Palić slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Édouard Mendy. That made the score 1-0 after 12 minutes of play. In the 15th minute, Mimoun Palić hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 16 played minutes, U21 Belgium's Robben Montens shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Simon Drábek came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in U21 Belgium reached it. In the 18th minute Ringo Rau shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Simon Drábek saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Nic Verheijd in the 20th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Simon Drábek prevented the ball from getting in the gole. U21 Belgium's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Ronny Cromefeldt in the 22nd minute. 25 minutes into the match, U21 Belgium's goal looked a bit too open when Mimoun Palić came free, but Édouard Mendy reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 29 minutes into the match, U21 Belgium's goal looked a bit too open when Ladislav Strakoš came free, but Édouard Mendy reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 31st minute Robben Montens shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Simon Drábek saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Robben Montens in the 31st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Simon Drábek prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The audience was convinced that Robben Montens's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Simon Drábek was relentless in the 31st minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ringo Rau in the 31st minute of play forced U21 Czech Republic's goalkeeper Simon Drábek to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 33 minutes into the game, Robben Montens cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Simon Drábek was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. If Nic Verheijd had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mimoun Palić received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Édouard Mendy tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Simon Drábek showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ringo Rau, who was totally free with the ball in the 46th minute. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ive Volckaerts in the 52nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Simon Drábek prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 54 minutes into the match, U21 Czech Republic's goal looked a bit too open when Nic Verheijd came free, but Simon Drábek reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Édouard Mendy made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ivan Brůna in the 56th minute of play. In the 60th minute U21 Belgium were awarded a corner. Ronny Cromefeldt went to the cornerflag to take it. In the 61st minute of the match, Nic Verheijd tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Simon Drábek saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Simon Drábek made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ive Volckaerts in the 64th minute of play. U21 Czech Republic made a substitution. František Havlát replaced Svatoslav Bašta. 68 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Czech Republic's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Ronny Cromefeldt was slow to take the kick. During this time U21 Belgium's players had a chance to rest. Simon Drábek showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ive Volckaerts in the 74th minute of the match. Simon Drábek took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ive Volckaerts, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, U21 Belgium's Nic Verheijd got a free kick in the 87th minute. 89 minutes into the match, Ive Volckaerts notched a goal, 1-2, to the right of U21 Czech Republic's Simon Drábek. Simon Drábek was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Ringo Rau blasted a shot towards the goal in the 92nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Simon Drábek having to make a save.

The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched U21 Belgium eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.