National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Bruno Boy started the match with the kick off. The audience thought a goal was coming when Mario Mandzukic got free with Rorry McPhilip in the 4th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 5 minutes into the match, U21 Spain's goal looked a bit too open when Dawayne Coyle came free, but Nicholas Climent reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Rorry McPhilip showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Julián Zapata in the 11th minute of the match. Julián Zapata who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 14thth minute tested the skills of Rorry McPhilip when he managed to save the team from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lewis Cassin in the 17th minute of play forced U21 Spain's goalkeeper Nicholas Climent to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Bruno Boy in the 19th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Nicholas Climent saved U21 Spain from getting behind. The audience thought a goal was coming when Julián Zapata got free with Rorry McPhilip in the 21st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Nicholas Climent showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bruno Boy in the 22nd minute of the match. In the 23rd match minute, U21 Spain was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mario Mandzukic to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice moves Mario Mandzukic could shoot a difficult shot in the 27th minute, which Rorry McPhilip however easily saved by the left post. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Julián Zapata in the 29th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Rorry McPhilip prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 30 minutes into the match, U21 Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Julián Zapata came free, but Rorry McPhilip reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 30th minute, Julián Zapata ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Rorry McPhilip was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. Nicholas Climent made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bruno Boy in the 33rd minute of play. A well done corner resulted in Dawayne Coyle drilling the ball in to score 1-1 behind U21 Spain's goalkeeper. The corner led U21 Spain's Quilino Novo to a score. 2-1 in the 39th minute. U21 Spain's Julián Zapata got a good chance for a goal in the 46th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-1 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Mario Mandzukic to strike the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Julián Zapata in the 53rd minute of play forced U21 Ireland's goalkeeper Rorry McPhilip to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Nicholas Climent stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Bruno Boy's shot from short distance in the 55th minute. In the 57th minute Julián Zapata shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rorry McPhilip saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When U21 Spain's Mario Mandzukic, in the 59th minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for U21 Spain. U21 Spain's Quintan Goyanes was substituted for Iago Rapado. Rorry McPhilip made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Julián Zapata in the 61st minute of play. Bruno Boy hit a great freekick 62 minutes into the match. Julián Zapata's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Rorry McPhilip read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 66th minute of play. In the 69th minute, Julián Zapata made a precise shot to the right of Rorry McPhilip. U21 Ireland's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-1. U21 Spain made a substitution. Nacho Llorente replaced Mario Mandzukic. U21 Spain made a substitution. Henry Abril replaced Baldomero Herrera. Julián Zapata's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Rorry McPhilip read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 76th minute of play. U21 Ireland's Rorry McPhilip played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nacho Llorente in the 86th minute of play. In the 88th minute, Ereinotz Bouzas hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Rorry McPhilip made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Julián Zapata in the 90th minute of play. Julián Zapata received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 92nd minute. Rorry McPhilip tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 93rd minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Spain's goalkeeper Nicholas Climent, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 95th minute Nacho Llorente shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rorry McPhilip saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 95 minutes into the match, Nacho Llorente notched a goal, 4-1, to the right of U21 Ireland's Rorry McPhilip. Rorry McPhilip was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. U21 Spain were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of U21 Ireland for a fine match.