Challenge

National Stadium
Spectators: 47 (Terracing: 36, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Benjamin Carberry started the match with the kick off. Matt Ryan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lars Viklund in the 5th minute of play. In the 9thth minute of the game Philip Legg who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Australia's Matt Ryan was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Corbett Alonso in the 11th minute of play forced U21 Australia's goalkeeper Matt Ryan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Elderslie Magpies's Aden Couzens played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Matt Marsland in the 13th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Benjamin Carberry in the 16th minute of play forced Elderslie Magpies's goalkeeper Aden Couzens to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 24th minute, Matthews Hollingworth left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Elderslie Magpies fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. Aden Couzens came out of the goal in the 39th minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Australia's Benjamin Carberry. But to his dismay, Benjamin Carberry quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. An unexpected shot in the 45th minute by Benjamin Carberry got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

In the 51st minute Philip Legg shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Matt Ryan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 55 minutes Elderslie Magpies's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Danton Keam who took care of the corner kick. Rich Durbridge tried to clear up in front of the goal, but didn't succeed and rather the ball rolled into the own goal to the right of a despaired Aden Couzens. An unnecessary self made goal, 2-1 in the 55th minute. With a little luck, U21 Australia's Matt Ryan got control of the ball when Philip Legg tried to sneak it across the goal line. Lian Cai charged in rather forcefully in the 59th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Lian Cai the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 59 played minutes U21 Australia got a freekick which was hit by Lian Cai. After a rather tough play, Elderslie Magpies's Esat Neval got a free kick in the 65th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Matt Marsland in the 66th minute of play forced Elderslie Magpies's goalkeeper Aden Couzens to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, U21 Australia's Matt Ryan got control of the ball when Philip Legg tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 69th minute Matt Marsland shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Aden Couzens saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 70 minutes Elderslie Magpies's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Danton Keam who took care of the corner kick. Benjamin Carberry was in a good position and managed to take a shot, but he missed just to the outside of the post. U21 Australia's Fletcher Baba was substituted for Benjamin Carberry. 80 minutes into the match, Elderslie Magpies's goal looked a bit too open when Fletcher Baba came free, but Aden Couzens reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Aden Couzens showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Matt Marsland, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. U21 Australia's Cole Meyers was substituted for Paz Bennett. U21 Australia were awarded a corner in the 88th minute after Elderslie Magpies's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Danton Keam took the corner. The corner led U21 Australia's Danton Keam to fire away a dangerous shot which Aden Couzens despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. 93 minutes in the game Esat Neval did a throw-in, and the ball was quickly in game thanks to Mateusz Klich.