National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10302 (Terracing: 7727, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Stephan Spanjaard took the kick off in the first half of the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ivan Westelinx in the 9th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jan Wilminck prevented the ball from getting in the gole. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Ivan Westelinx in the 14th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Jan Wilminck saved U21 Netherlands from getting behind. Samuel Verbraecken showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Arno Mos, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. In the 20th minute Ivan Westelinx shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jan Wilminck saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 23 minutes had been played when some careless play by U21 Netherlands's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Arnaud Versluys was slow to take the kick. During this time U21 Belgium's players had a chance to rest. If Ivan Westelinx had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 26th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Samuel Verbraecken showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gerard Wilhelm in the 27th minute of the match. After 28 played minutes U21 Netherlands got a freekick which was hit by Arno Mos. 31 minutes into the match, U21 Belgium's goal looked a bit too open when Stephan Spanjaard came free, but Samuel Verbraecken reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Arnaud Versluys kicked well hit freekick during the 41st minute of the match. After 43 played minutes U21 Belgium got a freekick which was hit by Arnaud Versluys. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Ivan Westelinx to strike the kick off in the second half. U21 Belgium's Arnaud Versluys got a good chance for a goal in the 55th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ivan Westelinx might have been able to make a better finish in the 61st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Jan Wilminck. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ivan Westelinx ran back to his position shaking his head. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ivan Westelinx in the 63rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jan Wilminck prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 64th minute of the match U21 Belgium got a corner. U21 Netherlands's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Arnaud Versluys ran over to the corner to take the kick. Youri Koens charged in rather forcefully in the 66th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Youri Koens the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 66 played minutes U21 Belgium got a freekick which was hit by Youri Koens. U21 Netherlands made a substitution. Karel Rooy replaced Arno Mos. U21 Belgium's Thys Rits was substituted for Seppe Van Der Meren. U21 Belgium's Mathijs Verstraeten was substituted for Ivan Westelinx. In the 67th match minute, U21 Belgium was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Youri Koens to maneuver through the defense. A hard shot by Felix Bas from long distance, 68 minutes into the match, got Samuel Verbraecken's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arnaud Versluys in the 69th minute of play forced U21 Netherlands's goalkeeper Jan Wilminck to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Mathijs Verstraeten in the 73rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jan Wilminck prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The supporters of U21 Belgium booed when U21 Netherlands was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 75 match minutes in a wonderful position. Giovanni van der Bij didn't get a good kick on the ball. Jan Wilminck took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mathijs Verstraeten, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 76thth minute of the game Mathijs Verstraeten who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Netherlands's Jan Wilminck was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 77 minutes into the game, Dirk Jan Prinsen was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. U21 Netherlands's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave U21 Belgium the free kick. Jan Wilminck stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Mathijs Verstraeten's shot from short distance in the 89th minute. After 91st play minutes Mathijs Verstraeten shot 1-1, a short shot which went by Jan Wilminck and just under the crossbar into goal. Mathijs Verstraeten hit a great freekick 94 minutes into the match. U21 Belgium's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.