National cup

National Stadium
Spectators: 1028 (Terracing: 772, Seating: 236, VIP seats: 20) Kostas Eleftherakis started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Takis Livaris showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Eric Oltean, who was totally free with the ball in the 4th minute. In the 7th minute, Florin Imperatore reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Takis Livaris. The goal made the score 1-0. Sabin Pânzaru made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Lionel-Andrés Messi in the 12th minute of play. U21 Greece's Takis Livaris proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 18th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Greece from getting a goal against them. In the 22nd match minute, U21 Romania was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Serginho Ramos to maneuver through the defense. In the 22nd minute, Serginho Ramos fired away a free kick at the goal, but hit it at the wrong angle and it went over the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Eric Oltean got free with Takis Livaris in the 24th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Charidimos Papadakis made in the 28th minute of the game a throw-in that took a bad bounce and was taken care of by U21 Romania's Serginho Ramos. In the 37th minute Eric Oltean shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Takis Livaris saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Gică Popescu during the 40th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 39th minute of the game. One of U21 Romania:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of U21 Greece:s goal. With a little luck, U21 Greece's Takis Livaris got control of the ball when Eric Oltean tried to sneak it across the goal line. Takis Livaris made a fantastic save in the 44th minute, when Eric Oltean sent off a good shot on target. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Eric Oltean stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Sabin Pânzaru made a fantastic save in the 56th minute, when Lionel-Andrés Messi sent off a good shot on target. After a defensive mix-up in U21 Romania's zone, Lionel-Andrés Messi stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Sabin Pânzaru came out of the goal and Lionel-Andrés Messi tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 69th minute the ball was on its way in behind U21 Greece's goalkeeper Takis Livaris, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The audience was convinced that Eric Oltean's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Takis Livaris was relentless in the 71st minute of the game. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Eric Oltean in the 71st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Takis Livaris prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Lionel-Andrés Messi recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 74th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Romelu Haaland charged in rather forcefully in the 77th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Romelu Haaland the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, U21 Greece's Romelu Haaland got a free kick in the 77th minute. After having played for 78 minutes, Rareș Nicola managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Romania's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rareș Nicola was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Milan Skriniar in the 81st minute of play forced U21 Greece's goalkeeper Takis Livaris to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Zinon Galanos recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 85th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 86 minutes into the match, U21 Greece's goal looked a bit too open when Milan Skriniar came free, but Takis Livaris reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of U21 Greece booed when U21 Romania was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 93 match minutes in a wonderful position. Serginho Ramos didn't get a good kick on the ball. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. U21 Romania had won after a very even match.