National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) If Liang Cai had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Richard Duggan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Liang Cai in the 5th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Liang Cai's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Richard Duggan was relentless in the 8th minute of the game. If Fletcher Baba had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Liang Cai sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Liang Cai sent away a hard shot on goal in the 22nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 22nd minute Liang Cai shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Richard Duggan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Fletcher Baba took the ball and in the 27 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Richard Duggan. Richard Duggan dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Richard Duggan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fletcher Baba, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Cliff Thomas showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Glen Prunty, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. After 36 minutes, Liang Cai made it 0-2 with a short kick to the right side. U21 Ireland's Richard Duggan tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 40th minute Liang Cai shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Richard Duggan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 41st minute U21 Australia were awarded a corner. Kane Muggleton went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner led U21 Australia's Kane Muggleton to fire away a dangerous shot which Richard Duggan despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 45th minute of the match U21 Australia got a corner. U21 Ireland's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Kane Muggleton ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led U21 Australia's Kane Muggleton to fire away a dangerous shot which Richard Duggan despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Brayden McPaul stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. The audience thought a goal was coming when Fletcher Baba got free with Richard Duggan in the 52nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Fletcher Baba might have been able to make a better finish in the 58th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Richard Duggan. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Fletcher Baba ran back to his position shaking his head. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Beamard Sheridan during the 60th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, U21 Ireland's Beamard Sheridan got a free kick in the 60th minute. With an all-out effort, U21 Australia's Richard Duggan threw himself towards the right post 66 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Liang Cai, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Richard Duggan took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Liang Cai, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 72nd minute, Kevin Lyle hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Cliff Thomas showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bowie Dillon in the 73rd minute of the match. When U21 Australia's Liang Cai in the 82nd minute got a chance for a shot 82nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Ireland's goalie prevented a goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Liang Cai in the 86th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Richard Duggan saved U21 Ireland from getting behind. Cliff Thomas showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bowie Dillon in the 87th minute of the match. 91 minutes into the match, U21 Ireland's goalkeeper Richard Duggan had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Fletcher Baba. 95 minutes into the match, Bowie Dillon had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Cliff Thomas. U21 Australia's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Bowie Dillon was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-3. The U21 Australia players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.