National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10325 (Terracing: 7744, Seating: 2375, VIP seats: 206) U21 Algeria's Benamar Naït Mazi 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. In the 5th minute, Lounès Ali left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The U21 Algeria fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. After 11 played minutes U21 Algeria got a freekick which was hit by Abdelkader Djamel. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ionică Săceanu in the 15th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Kylian Fadela prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Kylian Fadela made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gabriel-Omar Batistuta in the 17th minute of play. In a very dangerous position, a player in U21 Algeria fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 19th minute. Penalty! In the 23rd minute of the game Mátyás Király made a throw-in which Iulian Arnăutu played forward. U21 Algeria's Benamar Naït Mazi came free and shot a quick shot against goal 28 minutes in the game, fortunately Eric Neacșu had problems saving as it came toward the left post. 29 minutes into the match, U21 Romania's Ionică Săceanu sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Kylian Fadela narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After 34 played minutes U21 Romania got a freekick which was hit by Ionică Săceanu. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ionică Săceanu in the 35th minute of play forced U21 Algeria's goalkeeper Kylian Fadela to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 37th minute, Damian Popic managed to get in a good position for a shot. U21 Romania's supporters rose to their feet, but Damian Popic was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Kylian Fadela breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The audience thought a goal was coming when Benamar Naït Mazi got free with Eric Neacșu in the 42nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Eric Neacșu made an important save on a dangerous shot by Benamar Naït Mazi in the 42nd minute. Kylian Fadela didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Ionică Săceanu went, in the 45th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score.

The wind increased when Gabriel-Omar Batistuta made the kick off in the second half. A collision led to U21 Romania getting a freekick after 54 minutes play. Iulian Arnăutu hit a great ball. Iulian Arnăutu made in the 55th minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by U21 Algeria's Fayssal El Ouazzani. Eric Neacșu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Fayssal El Ouazzani, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 60th match minute, U21 Romania was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mátyás Király to maneuver through the defense. U21 Romania's Emil Sticlaru was substituted for Mátyás Király. U21 Romania's Fabian Vătafu was substituted for Mihnea Arvinte. After a rather tough play, U21 Romania's Mátyás Király got a free kick in the 61st minute. In the 62nd minute of the match Lounès Ali shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Eric Neacșu showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. 64 minutes in the game Iulian Arnăutu did a throw-in, and the ball was quickly in game thanks to Damian Popic. After a rather tough play, U21 Algeria's Abdelkader Djamel got a free kick in the 65th minute. Doru Pașcanu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Kylian Fadela made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ionică Săceanu in the 72nd minute of play. U21 Romania's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Ferdinand Burileanu in the 73rd minute. Iulian Arnăutu made in the 75th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Gabriel-Omar Batistuta immediately put the ball in play. Eric Neacșu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Benamar Naït Mazi, who was totally free with the ball in the 77th minute. In the 79th minute, Benamar Naït Mazi made a precise shot to the right of Eric Neacșu. U21 Romania's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-1. U21 Romania's Eric Neacșu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Benamar Naït Mazi in the 82nd minute of play. When Abdelkader Djamel fell near the penalty area in the 84th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 Algeria's protests and gave Abdelkader Djamel a yellow card for diving instead. In the 84th match minute, U21 Algeria was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Abdelkader Djamel to maneuver through the defense. U21 Romania's Eric Neacșu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Benamar Naït Mazi in the 85th minute of play. A sloppy throw-in by Iulian Arnăutu in the 89th minute of the game went astray and was snapped up by U21 Algeria's Fayssal El Ouazzani. U21 Romania's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.