National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) U21 Russia's Vitaliy Fedchenko started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. An unexpectedly hard shot by Grigoriy Kudryavtsev in the 4th minute of play forced U21 Ireland's goalkeeper Richard Duggan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Beamard Sheridan fell near the penalty area in the 8th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 Ireland's protests and gave Beamard Sheridan a yellow card for diving instead. Beamard Sheridan hit a great freekick 8 minutes into the match. Nikita Kazachenko took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 9th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Richard Duggan. U21 Ireland's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Brayden McPaul got free with Lavrentiy Maslyannikov in the 10th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 11thth minute of the game Brayden McPaul who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Russia's Lavrentiy Maslyannikov was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Brayden McPaul scored 1-0 in the 17th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Lavrentiy Maslyannikov, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Richard Duggan stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Grigoriy Kudryavtsev's shot from short distance in the 24th minute. Richard Duggan showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Grigoriy Kudryavtsev in the 26th minute of the match. The corner ended in Nikita Kazachenko almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but U21 Ireland's Richard Duggan did a great save. In the 30th match minute, U21 Russia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Stanislav Bessmertnyi to maneuver through the defense. With his leg Lavrentiy Maslyannikov managed to avoid a goal in the 31stth minute, when U21 Ireland's Bowie Dillon fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. A nice corner shot did that Bowie Dillon got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Lavrentiy Maslyannikov quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. The supporters of U21 Russia booed when U21 Ireland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 39 match minutes in a wonderful position. Breffni Barrett didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in U21 Ireland's zone, Grigoriy Kudryavtsev stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Richard Duggan came out of the goal and Grigoriy Kudryavtsev tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Brayden McPaul received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 44th minute. Lavrentiy Maslyannikov tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Stanislav Bessmertnyi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Brayden McPaul made a kick off. At last the ball reached Seoirse McJon at the corner, ending with a kick to difficult to stop for the goalkeeper of U21 Russia. 2-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Vitaliy Fedchenko in the 55th minute of play forced U21 Ireland's goalkeeper Richard Duggan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Grigoriy Kudryavtsev recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 56th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Lavrentiy Maslyannikov made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Glen Prunty in the 61st minute of play. Grigoriy Kudryavtsev in the 63rdth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Richard Duggan, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Grigoriy Kudryavtsev in the 63rdth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Richard Duggan, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Seoirse McJon's late challenge caught a U21 Russia's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Seoirse McJon helped the player get up and apologised. In the 65th match minute, U21 Ireland was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Seoirse McJon to maneuver through the defense. When Bowie Dillon, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 70 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Lavrentiy Maslyannikov was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. Grigoriy Kudryavtsev sent away a hard shot on goal in the 72nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The supporters of U21 Ireland booed when U21 Russia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 74 match minutes in a wonderful position. Stanislav Bessmertnyi didn't get a good kick on the ball. Brayden McPaul hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. 79 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Russia's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Bowie Dillon was slow to take the kick. During this time U21 Ireland's players had a chance to rest. Lavrentiy Maslyannikov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Brayden McPaul, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. U21 Russia's Vitaliy Fedchenko got a good chance for a goal in the 82nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Seoirse McJon was shown his second yellow card after 85 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. Seoirse McJon kicked well hit freekick during the 85th minute of the match. Vitaliy Fedchenko sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. U21 Ireland's Richard Duggan proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 88th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Ireland from getting a goal against them. Lavrentiy Maslyannikov took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Brayden McPaul, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After having played for 92 minutes, Glen Prunty managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Ireland's supporters crossed their fingers, but Glen Prunty was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. A collision led to U21 Russia getting a freekick after 93 minutes play. Stanislav Bessmertnyi hit a great ball. In the 95th minute Brayden McPaul shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Lavrentiy Maslyannikov saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. U21 Ireland's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.