Report: Italy 4-2 England MU17s

England men’s under-17s have it all to do heading into their final group phase fixture, after losing out 4-2 to Italy in Albania.

Alejandro Rodriguez fetched the leveller twice in Albania, before Italy notched two unanswered goals to put the fate out of the hands of the Young Lions heading into the final test against the Czech Republic on Monday.

Neil Ryan’s side were willing to be patient and control possession from minute one, with Kaden Braithwaite stepping on the ball, looking to take stock of his options.

But it was Italy who took the lead early on after Samuele Inacio converted from the spot following Jun’ai Byfield’s mistimed challenge. Jack Porter spread himself wide, but the touch from his boot failed to keep out the Borussia Dortmund talent, edging Italy closer towards qualification for the knockout stages.

The opponents’ low block continued to prove difficult to break down in the early moments, creating attacking freedom for Thomas Campaniello, whose drive was blocked well by Malachi Hardy on the edge of the penalty area.

But on 18 minutes, the moment shifted, and it was the Young Lions who started to turn the screw. Max Dowman – leading the line alongside Alejandro Rodriguez – strode towards goal, testing Sebastiano Nava in the first instance, before slicing the resulting corner wide.

Next came a curling effort from Inacio, before Rodriguez made the Italians rue their missed chances at the other end. The Lyon forward continued his feat for scoring, meeting Dean Benamar’s delivery to peg the defending champions back level.

With England growing in confidence, the pair continued to link up. Bradley Burrowes’ cross was heavy footed, where Benamar picked up possession down the left, before arching in a ball towards Rodriguez, who tested Nava on 30 minutes.

This time Rodriguez was the architect, threading a ball in towards Dowman, who took the ball on the turn, but Nava was equal to the Arsenal youngster’s drive.

And on 37 minutes, it was Italy who restored their lead. Cristiano De Paoli’s strike took a nick from his opposite number, sending the ball beyond Porter’s reach.

England continued to wrestle in possession, and the ball was eventually worked out wide to Benemar, sending in a ball towards Rodriguez, whose header lacked the necessary purchase to beat Nava.

But there was no letting up from the Lyon forward in the 49th minute, who wriggled his way inside the Italy penalty area, picking out the bottom corner to draw the Young Lions level for the second time in Albania.

Then, chaos unfolded inside the England penalty area. Jean Mambuku’s header was denied by the woodwork before the full-back’s second attempt was met by Porter. Destiny Elimoghale eventually forced the ball home after a scuffle inside the six-yard box, but the linesman’s flag was lifted.

It mattered for little, though, as Italy scored a third on 67 minutes. Captain Andre Luongo picked out Thomas Campaniello, who sent his header beyond Porter on the stretch.

Italy were firing on all cylinders, and found a fourth goal ten minutes later when Luongo added his name to the act, as his delivery – escaping the crowd of white shirts – flew into the bottom corner.
Rodriguez was next to go close, as we entered stoppage time, but his strike was tame for Nava, who was in no rush to get play going once more.

England: 1 Jack Porter (Arsenal), 2 Brad Burrowes (Aston Villa), 3 Dean Benamar (Crystal Palace), 5 Kaden Braithwaite (Manchester City), 6 Jun’ai Byfield (Tottenham Hotspur), 8 Seth Ridgeon (Fulham), 9 Alejandro Rodriguez (Olympique Lyonnais), 10 Max Dowman (Arsenal), 15 Malachi Hardy (Tottenham Hotspur), 16 Louis Page (Leicester City), 19 Rio Nguhoma (Liverpool)

Substitutes: 11 Reigan Heskey (Manchester City) for Nguhoma 63’, 17 Ryan McAidoo (Manchester City) for Burrowes 70’, 18 Finlay Gorman (Manchester City) for Dowman 70’, 20 Harry Gray (Leeds United) for Page 76’

Substitutes not used: 13 Lanre Awesu (West Ham United), 4 Landon Emenalo (Chelsea), 12 Freddie Simmonds (Brighton & Hove Albion), 14 Luca Williams-Barnett (Tottenham Hotspur)
Goals: Rodriguez 23’, 49’

Head coach: Neil Ryan