National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Tomislav Cvetanoski made the kick off which started today's match. Gaspard Izquierdo might have been able to make a better finish in the 5th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Veljko Cvetanov. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Gaspard Izquierdo ran back to his position shaking his head. After 8 played minutes U21 Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Boni Alba. An unexpectedly hard shot by Erkand Boškovski in the 9th minute of play forced U21 Venezuela's goalkeeper Alberino Pujana to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 9th minute, Tomislav Cvetanoski managed to get in a good position for a shot. U21 Macedonia's supporters rose to their feet, but Tomislav Cvetanoski was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Alberino Pujana breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Alberino Pujana showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomislav Cvetanoski in the 11th minute of the match. 13 minutes into the match, U21 Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Boris Hristov came free, but Alberino Pujana reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 17th minute U21 Venezuela were awarded a corner. Boni Alba went to the cornerflag to take it. A well-hit corner resulted in Rosio Tineo heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. In the 22ndth minute of the game Gaspard Izquierdo who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Macedonia's Veljko Cvetanov was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. U21 Venezuela's Gaspard Izquierdo got a good chance for a goal in the 24th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ariton Nikiforov during the 25th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Ariton Nikiforov kicked well hit freekick during the 25th minute of the match. Alberino Pujana showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tomislav Cvetanoski, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. U21 Macedonia's Naum Cvetkovič got a good chance for a goal in the 30th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. U21 Macedonia's Boris Hristov got a good chance for a goal in the 33rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Alberino Pujana took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Erkand Boškovski, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 43 minutes into the match, U21 Macedonia's goal looked a bit too open when Gaspard Izquierdo came free, but Veljko Cvetanov reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Gaspard Izquierdo stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. U21 Macedonia's Veljko Cvetanov played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Bras Pizarro in the 52nd minute of play. Erkand Boškovski recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 57th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When Don Cuca came up free with the goalie in the 67th minute, the U21 Venezuela 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 Don Cuca couldn't finish the play. In the 71st minute U21 Macedonia were awarded a corner. Bergin Atanasov went to the cornerflag to take it. Boris Hristov made a great header on U21 Macedonia's corner, it was just that U21 Venezuela's Alberino Pujana managed to reach the ball for a save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Dame Naceski got free with Alberino Pujana in the 76th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 78th minute Tomislav Cvetanoski shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alberino Pujana saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Renato Nunez-Tesheira kicked well hit freekick during the 80th minute of the match. After a rather tough play, U21 Venezuela's Andrea Maldini got a free kick in the 84th minute. If Gaspard Izquierdo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Tomislav Cvetanoski's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 87thth minute, Alberino Pujana skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Alberino Pujana showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tomislav Cvetanoski, who was totally free with the ball in the 92nd minute. Xandro Zubillaga received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Veljko Cvetanov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.