National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10302 (Terracing: 7727, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Svebor Poljak made the kick off and thus started the match. The supporters of U21 Romania booed when U21 Croatia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 6 match minutes in a wonderful position. Svebor Poljak didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lino Bogdanović was a little too slow when Gheorghe Glodeanu got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 9th minute. The score was now 1-0. 22 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Romania's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Filip Marinović was slow to take the kick. During this time U21 Croatia's players had a chance to rest. The corner ended in Filip Marinović almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but U21 Romania's Emil Aldulea did a great save. Emil Aldulea took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Svebor Poljak, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gradimir Stipetić in the 30th minute of play forced U21 Romania's goalkeeper Emil Aldulea to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Emil Aldulea showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Filip Marinović in the 33rd minute of the match. 34 minutes into the match, U21 Romania's goal looked a bit too open when Svebor Poljak came free, but Emil Aldulea reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 34th minute, Svebor Poljak ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Emil Aldulea was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. Emil Aldulea took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Filip Marinović, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Emil Aldulea didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Filip Marinović went, in the 38th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-2 was the resulting score. In the 41st minute, Cornel Gagiu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Emil Aldulea came out of the goal in the 42nd minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Croatia's Svebor Poljak. But to his dismay, Svebor Poljak quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-3. Siniša Bošnir sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. U21 Croatia made a substitution. Luka Bajs replaced Svebor Poljak. After the first half U21 Croatia were leading 2-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Ion Oblemenco made a kick off. After 51 played minutes U21 Croatia got a freekick which was hit by Igor Tudor. Toni Vukasović hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. Lino Bogdanović showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ion Oblemenco, who was totally free with the ball in the 66th minute. In the 76th match minute, U21 Romania was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ernest Vulpescu to maneuver through the defense. U21 Romania made a substitution. Rosario Guevara replaced Grigore Răduțu. After a rather tough play, U21 Romania's Ernest Vulpescu got a free kick in the 77th minute. After 78 played minutes U21 Romania got a freekick which was hit by George Deac. 79 minutes into the match, U21 Romania's goal looked a bit too open when Filip Marinović came free, but Emil Aldulea reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 80 minutes into the game, U21 Croatia's Filip Marinović nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Emil Aldulea made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-4. When Ion Timofte came up free with the goalie in the 83rd minute, the U21 Romania 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 Ion Timofte couldn't finish the play. After 83 minutes, Ion Oblemenco made it 3-4 with a short kick to the right side. U21 Croatia's Lino Bogdanović tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Ion Oblemenco received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 88th minute. Lino Bogdanović tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Emil Aldulea took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luka Bajs, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ion Timofte struck a weak shot in the 93rd minute. Lino Bogdanović didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 Romania. When Stanimir Mrdeža fell near the penalty area in the 97th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 Croatia's protests and gave Stanimir Mrdeža a yellow card for diving instead. Stanimir Mrdeža hit a great freekick 97 minutes into the match. The U21 Croatia supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing U21 Croatia would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.