National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Ziad Benzouin made the kick off which started today's match. When U21 Morocco's Jawad Arrafi in the 3rd minute got a chance for a shot 3rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Luxembourg's goalie prevented a goal. Jay Titmuss showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ziad Benzouin in the 5th minute of the match. 10 minutes into the game, Donny Barfield was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. U21 Luxembourg's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave U21 Morocco the free kick. In the 10th minute, Donny Barfield hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Victor Haley in the 18th minute of play forced U21 Morocco's goalkeeper Tanan El Idrissi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 18 minutes into the match, Victor Haley had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Tanan El Idrissi. U21 Morocco's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Victor Haley was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. When U21 Morocco's Ziad Benzouin in the 23rd minute got a chance for a shot 23rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye U21 Luxembourg's goalie prevented a goal. When the match had gone on for 23 minutes, Ziad Benzouin put it in 1-1 from a short distance just to the right of Jay Titmuss. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ziad Benzouin in the 30th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jay Titmuss prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When the match clock showed 33 minutes, the score became 1-2 when Ziad Benzouin sped through U21 Luxembourg's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Jay Titmuss. 41 minutes into the match, U21 Luxembourg's goal looked a bit too open when Ziad Benzouin came free, but Jay Titmuss reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 42 minutes, Brad Tate mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Luxembourg and the U21 Morocco players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to U21 Luxembourg getting a freekick after 42 minutes play. Brad Tate hit a great ball. U21 Morocco's Youness Zerouali suffered a concussion in the 45th minute, after a hard challenge, and had to leave the field. After 45 minutes, Lance Pritchard mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Luxembourg and the U21 Morocco players grew even worse after the yellow card. U21 Morocco made a substitution. Ashraf Lamyaghri replaced Youness Zerouali. In the 47th minute, Lance Pritchard hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Brendon Tomkins hit a great freekick 48 minutes into the match. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Scott Smith made a kick off. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ziad Benzouin got free with Jay Titmuss in the 55th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. U21 Luxembourg's Jay Titmuss proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 60th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Luxembourg from getting a goal against them. 66 minutes into the match, U21 Morocco's goal looked a bit too open when Scott Smith came free, but Tanan El Idrissi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The supporters of U21 Morocco booed when U21 Luxembourg was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 67 match minutes in a wonderful position. Garry Gould didn't get a good kick on the ball. U21 Morocco's Sadid Sektioui was substituted for Sisangh Boukemouch. A collision led to U21 Luxembourg getting a freekick after 71 minutes play. Victor Haley hit a great ball. Tanan El Idrissi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Scott Smith, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Kojiro Hyuga charged in rather forcefully in the 75th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Kojiro Hyuga the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of U21 Morocco booed when U21 Luxembourg was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 76 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kojiro Hyuga didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 76th minute, Udad Roumani got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 78th match minute, U21 Luxembourg was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Harvey Emberson to maneuver through the defense. U21 Morocco's Tanan El Idrissi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Scott Smith in the 80th minute of play. Brad Tate sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Tanan El Idrissi stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Scott Smith's shot from short distance in the 85th minute. In the 87th minute, Brad Tate got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After 91 minutes of play U21 Luxembourg's Donny Barfield was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. Ziad Benzouin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Scott Smith hit a great freekick 97 minutes into the match. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. U21 Morocco walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.