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. Codruț Corbeanu started the match with the kick off. Marek Koniarek sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Wes Parry made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Leonard Postelnicescu in the 4th minute of play. Wes Parry made an important save on a dangerous shot by Costel Neculuță in the 6th minute. When U21 Romania's Codruț Corbeanu in the 8th minute got a chance for a shot 8th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 England's goalie prevented a goal. Bogdan Oprița showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Martyn Slade in the 12th minute of the match. In the 22nd minute Martyn Slade shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bogdan Oprița saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ivan Mallon kicked well hit freekick during the 23rd minute of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Codruț Corbeanu got free with Wes Parry in the 24th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Wes Parry stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Leonard Postelnicescu's shot from short distance in the 25th minute. In the 28th minute Marek Koniarek shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bogdan Oprița saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Cristi Luca sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 32nd minute, Ricky Hayes made a precise shot to the right of Bogdan Oprița. U21 Romania's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Costel Neculuță received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 38th minute. Wes Parry tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ricky Hayes's late challenge caught a U21 Romania's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ricky Hayes helped the player get up and apologised. In the 39th match minute, U21 England was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ricky Hayes to maneuver through the defense. Leonard Postelnicescu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Wes Parry having to interfere. Wes Parry took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristi Luca, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 45th minute, U21 Romania's Leonard Postelnicescu ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Wes Parry. Wes Parry yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-1. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Martyn Slade stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 53 minutes into the match, U21 England's goal looked a bit too open when Leonard Postelnicescu came free, but Wes Parry reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 54 minutes into the match, U21 England's goal looked a bit too open when Cristi Luca came free, but Wes Parry reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Bogdan Oprița made an important save on a dangerous shot by Martyn Slade in the 56th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Marek Koniarek got free with Bogdan Oprița in the 57th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ricky Hayes got free with Bogdan Oprița in the 62nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Wes Parry showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristi Luca, who was totally free with the ball in the 63rd minute. After 65 minutes of play, U21 Romania's Leonard Postelnicescu made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Wes Parry was left in no man's land by his defense there! After some careless play in the U21 England defense, Codruț Corbeanu kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Wes Parry. The U21 England fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Wes Parry should have stopped the shot. Wes Parry showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Leonard Postelnicescu, who was totally free with the ball in the 76th minute. A collision led to U21 England getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Ozzy Billing hit a great ball. Wes Parry showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Leonard Postelnicescu in the 82nd minute of the match. When U21 Romania's Cristi Luca in the 89th minute got a chance for a shot 89th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 England's goalie prevented a goal. After 92 played minutes U21 Romania got a freekick which was hit by Martin Pârcălab. U21 England's Wes Parry played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Costel Neculuță in the 94th minute of play. In the 95th minute, Nechifor Hurgoi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Steven Hancock in the 96th minute of play forced U21 Romania's goalkeeper Bogdan Oprița to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When the referee ended the match the U21 Romania players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.