National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10305 (Terracing: 7729, Seating: 2370, VIP seats: 206) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Makhaon Paloumbas got the match started through his kick off. In the 10th minute, one of U21 Cyprus:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for U21 Cyprus. In the 12th minute there was a penalty for U21 Italy. Ercole Giocondo stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Stelios Argitakos. 0-2. Stelios Argitakos took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ercole Giocondo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. U21 Cyprus's Stelios Argitakos played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Felice Caponera in the 18th minute of play. Stelios Argitakos made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ercole Giocondo in the 20th minute of play. After a rather tough play, U21 Cyprus's Briarios Katsourinis got a free kick in the 21st minute. After a rather tough play, U21 Cyprus's Nassos Papadakos got a free kick in the 22nd minute. Bruno Malandra, 22 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. When U21 Cyprus's Makhaon Paloumbas in the 24th minute got a chance for a shot 24th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Italy's goalie prevented a goal. Stelios Argitakos showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ercole Giocondo, who was totally free with the ball in the 28th minute. 29 minutes into the match, U21 Cyprus's Makhaon Paloumbas sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Diego De Feo narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The supporters of U21 Italy booed when U21 Cyprus was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 31 match minutes in a wonderful position. Makhaon Paloumbas didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Makhaon Paloumbas got free with Diego De Feo in the 34th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Stelios Argitakos made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ercole Giocondo in the 36th minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Tri Niță during the 43rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 43rd minute, Tri Niță hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Nassos Papadakos took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 45th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Diego De Feo. U21 Italy's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Makhaon Paloumbas's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 47thth minute, Diego De Feo skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Stelios Argitakos had great luck who in the 53rdth minute grab hold of the ball when Ercole Giocondo from a short distance tried to put the ball inside the right post. Stelios Argitakos made a fantastic save in the 55th minute, when Ercole Giocondo sent off a good shot on target. Stelios Argitakos came out of the goal in the 58th minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Italy's Ercole Giocondo. But to his dismay, Ercole Giocondo quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-3. Makhaon Paloumbas charged in rather forcefully in the 61st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Makhaon Paloumbas the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Makhaon Paloumbas hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. U21 Cyprus's Stelios Argitakos proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 62nd minute of the match, managed to save U21 Cyprus from getting a goal against them. After 64 played minutes U21 Italy got a freekick which was hit by Tri Niță. Makhaon Paloumbas scored 1-3 in the 65th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Diego De Feo, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 69thth minute of the game Makhaon Paloumbas who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Italy's Diego De Feo was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Stelios Argitakos showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Felice Caponera, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. Stelios Argitakos was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Frank Ascani showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-4 in the 72 minute of play. U21 Cyprus's Akheloos Sousanis was substituted for Dihnekis Roussos. After a rather tough play, U21 Cyprus's Apostolis Banos got a free kick in the 79th minute. U21 Italy made a substitution. Donato Cannata replaced Tri Niță. A collision led to U21 Cyprus getting a freekick after 80 minutes play. Apostolis Banos hit a great ball. In the 84th minute Briarios Katsourinis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Diego De Feo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 85 minutes, Briarios Katsourinis managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Cyprus's supporters crossed their fingers, but Briarios Katsourinis was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Diego De Feo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Akheloos Sousanis, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 89 minutes into the match, U21 Cyprus's goal looked a bit too open when Frank Ascani came free, but Stelios Argitakos reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 91 minutes of play, U21 Italy's Fausto Pozzo made it 1-5 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Stelios Argitakos was left in no man's land by his defense there! After 94 played minutes U21 Cyprus got a freekick which was hit by Nassos Papadakos. The U21 Cyprus fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. U21 Italy were clearly better and deserved to take the win.