National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Lukas Podolski made the kick off and thus started the match. 6 minutes into the game, Mathias Schulten was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. U21 Austria's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave U21 Albania the free kick. In the 6th match minute, U21 Austria was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mathias Schulten to maneuver through the defense. 11 minutes into the match, U21 Albania's goal looked a bit too open when Jan-Moritz Weisheit came free, but Laze Gjoka reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. U21 Austria's Frederic Gschwendtner played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Frai Shehu in the 12th minute of play. After 15 minutes, Kim Louven mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Austria and the U21 Albania players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to U21 Austria getting a freekick after 15 minutes play. Kim Louven hit a great ball. 17 minutes into the game, Shkëlqim Xhika threw the ball into play from the sideline. U21 Austria's Kilian Jonen quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. Laze Gjoka was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Sebastian Ziegler showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 19 minute of play. In the 24th minute, Shkëlqim Xhika hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 26th minute U21 Austria were awarded a corner. Jan-Moritz Weisheit went to the cornerflag to take it. A well-hit corner resulted in Mathias Schulten heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. Frederic Gschwendtner showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Januz Oparaku in the 29th minute of the match. Frederic Gschwendtner made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Januz Oparaku in the 34th minute of play. In the 36th minute U21 Albania were awarded a corner. Shkëlqim Xhika went to the cornerflag to take it. A nice corner shot did that Shkëlqim Xhika got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Frederic Gschwendtner quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Laze Gjoka made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lukas Podolski in the 38th minute of play. Shkëlqim Xhika's late challenge caught a U21 Austria's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Shkëlqim Xhika helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of U21 Austria booed when U21 Albania was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Shkëlqim Xhika didn't get a good kick on the ball. 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 Januz Oparaku stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Frederic Gschwendtner made a fantastic save in the 52nd minute, when Frai Shehu sent off a good shot on target. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lukas Podolski in the 54th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Laze Gjoka prevented the ball from getting in the gole. U21 Austria's Lukas Podolski got a good chance for a goal in the 55th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. U21 Austria's Frederic Gschwendtner played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Januz Oparaku in the 58th minute of play. Frederic Gschwendtner made an important save on a dangerous shot by Minir Noli in the 62nd minute. If Lukas Podolski had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Frederic Gschwendtner took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Januz Oparaku, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 69th minute, Lukas Podolski ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Laze Gjoka was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. U21 Austria's Dominic Haug was substituted for Jan-Moritz Weisheit. Frederic Gschwendtner showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Januz Oparaku in the 75th minute of the match. Laze Gjoka stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Lukas Podolski's shot from short distance in the 76th minute. Laze Gjoka took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lukas Podolski, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 78 played minutes U21 Albania got a freekick which was hit by Frai Shehu. U21 Austria's Jörg Moratschke was substituted for Lukas Podolski. In the 80th match minute, U21 Albania was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Frai Shehu to maneuver through the defense. U21 Albania's Laze Gjoka played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jörg Moratschke in the 81st minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luftëtar Myftiu in the 82nd minute of play forced U21 Austria's goalkeeper Frederic Gschwendtner to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Laze Gjoka showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jörg Moratschke in the 83rd minute of the match. After 85 minutes U21 Albania's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Adem Ferrari who took care of the corner kick. It was a well-played corner which Dominic Haug managed to volley towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't get a great hit on the ball and it went out into the grandstand. After 87 played minutes U21 Austria got a freekick which was hit by Patrik Andres. Minir Noli could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 89th minute of the match, but Frederic Gschwendtner made a huge save. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Jörg Moratschke in the 92nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Laze Gjoka saved U21 Albania from getting behind. The home crowd let out a huge roar when the referee blew for the end of the game. U21 Austria were victorious despite being under pressure from U21 Albania for much of the match.