National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Sameer Al Mulaifi started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. 2 minutes into the match, U21 Kuwait's goal looked a bit too open when Victoriano Abril came free, but Sameer Saeed reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. U21 Venezuela's Ferrando Potes was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Sameer Saeed in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. After 6 played minutes U21 Venezuela got a freekick which was hit by Bertran Cuba. 8 minutes into the game, Bertol Frejon was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. U21 Venezuela's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave U21 Kuwait the free kick. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Victoriano Abril in the 19th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Sameer Saeed prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 20th minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Venezuela's goalkeeper Bixintxo Olmos, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. When Marco Reus came up free with the goalie in the 22nd minute, the U21 Kuwait fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Marco Reus couldn't finish the play. Sameer Saeed took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Victoriano Abril, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. U21 Kuwait's Sameer Saeed played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Victoriano Abril in the 27th minute of play. 28 minutes into the match, U21 Venezuela's goalkeeper Bixintxo Olmos had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Sameer Al Mulaifi. If Victoriano Abril had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 33 minutes U21 Venezuela's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Sadeq Al Dosery who took care of the corner kick. In the 34th minute Jürgen Habermas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sameer Saeed saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Joaquin Urbiso sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Sameer Al Mulaifi kicked well hit freekick during the 40th minute of the match. In the 41st match minute, U21 Kuwait was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ciro Immobile to maneuver through the defense.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Victoriano Abril was the one to do the kick off. An unexpected shot in the 51st minute by Jürgen Habermas got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. After a rather tough play, U21 Kuwait's Mahmoud Al Motaire got a free kick in the 52nd minute. Sameer Saeed showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Victoriano Abril in the 53rd minute of the match. Mahmoud Al Motaire kicked well hit freekick during the 54th minute of the match. Jürgen Habermas kicked well hit freekick during the 56th minute of the match. After a rather tough play, U21 Venezuela's Jürgen Habermas got a free kick in the 57th minute. Victoriano Abril struck a weak shot in the 59th minute. Sameer Saeed didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for U21 Venezuela. When U21 Venezuela's Victoriano Abril in the 62nd minute got a chance for a shot 62nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Kuwait's goalie prevented a goal. U21 Venezuela's Victoriano Abril got a good chance for a goal in the 63rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. U21 Kuwait made a substitution. Haitham Jiragh replaced Marco Reus. U21 Kuwait made a substitution. Nabel Al Mahmed replaced Meshal Al Mansor. Sameer Saeed made an important save on a dangerous shot by Victoriano Abril in the 66th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joaquin Urbiso in the 67th minute of play forced U21 Kuwait's goalkeeper Sameer Saeed to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Sameer Saeed showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joaquin Urbiso in the 72nd minute of the match. U21 Venezuela's Telmo Nobajas was substituted for Luis Vera. U21 Kuwait's Sameer Saeed proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 83rd minute of the match, managed to save U21 Kuwait from getting a goal against them. When Victoriano Abril in the 83rd play minute got the chance to kick a hard shot on goal from short distance neither the defense or Sameer Saeed kept up with the ball and suddenly the score was 1-2 when the ball slipped into goal inside the left pole. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Haitham Jiragh in the 87th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Bixintxo Olmos saved U21 Venezuela from getting behind. In the 92ndth minute of the game Haitham Jiragh who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Venezuela's Bixintxo Olmos was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. If Ciro Immobile had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 94th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. U21 Kuwait's Sameer Saeed proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 95th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Kuwait from getting a goal against them. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched U21 Venezuela eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.