Spain U-21 versus Belarus U-21 – Under 21 European Championship semi finals: Second half review (Part 1)
After dominating the first half of their semi-final tie against Belarus, Spain found themselves trailing their opponents by a goal at the end of the first 45 minutes of play as Belarus scored in the dying moments of the first half.
The goal came totally against the run of play as Spain maintained a control over ball possession. This trend continued into the second half as Spain came out battling. This was evident in the 46th minute as Montoya carried the ball forward from
his right back position.
The Barcelona youth academy product whipped in a cross towards http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Juan-c19640 Mata. However the Spanish forward’s header was a wayward one as Spain failed to get their equalizer early on in the second half. In the 51st minute,
Spain were on the front foot once again. This time Muniain stepped up to the plate by cutting to the by-ling. The Athletic Bilbao striker chipped the ball towards Adrian on the far past but the young target-man failed to get a strong shot away as the ball
sailed out of play.
In the 53rd minute, Spain had two wonderful goal scoring chances as both the openings fell to Adrian. The Deportivo La Coruna striker was played in by Didac but his eventual effort was wide of the mark. Shortly after
Adrian skipped past his defender inside the Belarus penalty area but the young goal scorer failed to work the Belarus goalkeeper Gutor as his effort was off the mark.
In the 55th minute, Spain piled on the pressure in order to force their counter parts into a mistake but Gutor came to his team’s rescue once again. This time http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adrián-c3701 was played in by Ander and Spain’s solitary striker
tired to force the ball past the onrushing Gutor but the young goalkeeper tipped it away at his near post in order to keep the score line at one nil in favour of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Belarus-c2849 U-21 contingent.
In the 58th minute, Spain decided to change things around as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011’s
defensive midfielder departing, it was evident that the tournament favourites had varied their tactics by putting on a winger in order to force a breakthrough.
In the 60th minute, Belarus responded with their first substitution of the match when Aleksandr Perepechko was replaced by Dmitri Baga. With their backs to the wall Belarus defended resolutely but Spanish frustrations
were evident in the 61st minute when Montoya decided to try his luck from outside the Belarus penalty area. Despite having better options in shape of Adrian and Mata, the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 full back unleashed a powerful effort at Gutor’s goal but the Belarusian
goalkeeper held onto the ball expertly.
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