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Italy’s La Nucía International Tournament campaign got off to a difficult start as the Under-20s suffered a 3-1 defeat to England in their opening match at the Estadio Olímpico Camilo Cano.
Italy went into the break a goal down after Jesse Shaun Derry, the 2007-born Sporting CP winger on loan from Chelsea, opened the scoring in the 37th minute. England then doubled their lead in the 52nd minute through Mikey Steven Danny Moore, the 2007-born English-Welsh winger who is on loan at Köln from Tottenham.
The Azzurrini pulled one back in the 66th minute when 2007-born English-Lithuanian West Ham defender Airidas Golambeckis turned the ball into his own net. England restored their two-goal advantage late on, however, as substitute Shea Lacey, the 2007-born English-Irish Manchester United winger, struck in the 85th minute to seal a 3-1 win.
Carmine Nunziata’s side will return to action on Tuesday 29 September (17:30 CEST), once again in La Nucía, when they take on Germany. The Germans face France this afternoon (17:30 CEST), also at the Estadio Olímpico Camilo Cano.
THE MATCH. Italy set up in a 4-3-1-2, with Siviero in goal; Idele, Amey, Stabile and Pagnucco forming the back four; captain Mannini joined by Rispoli and Mout in midfield; and De Pieri operating behind the front two of Rao and Lavelli.
England responded with a 4-2-3-1, with Whatmuff in goal; Sidibe, Golambeckis, Heaven and Amass across the back four; Rigg and Nyoni in central midfield; and Derry, Armstrong and Mikey Moore operating behind lone striker Mukasa.
England made the brighter start and immediately put the Azzurrini under pressure, forcing Siviero into a near-post save to keep out Amass’s dangerous left-footed effort in the fifth minute. They continued to push forward and went close again in the ninth minute, when Rigg’s left-footed strike from 20 metres flashed just wide of the right-hand post. Two minutes later, Armstrong met Derry’s corner but headed over the bar.
Italy struggled to find space or establish any rhythm, spending much of the opening spell on the back foot. The game remained finely balanced after the cooling break, which came around the 25-minute mark, but Nunziata’s side were dealt a blow in the 37th minute. Derry timed his run on the shoulder of the defence, burst into the area and found the far bottom corner with a precise right-footed finish.
The Azzurrini looked to respond but were unable to trouble England before the break, and after two minutes of added time they headed into the dressing room trailing 1-0.
Italy made five changes at the break, with Idele, Pagnucco, Mannini, Mout and De Pieri making way for Mirra, Cama, Coletta, Di Nunzio and Mosconi. England struck again soon after the restart, captain Moore doubling their lead in the 52nd minute with a crisp first-time right-footed finish across Siviero after being picked out by Derry.
The Azzurrini were visibly rocked by the second goal but tried to respond. Mosconi fired a left-footed effort wide in the 53rd minute, before Coletta tried his luck from distance with his right six minutes later, again without reward.
Nunziata’s side were handed a lifeline in the 66th minute. Lavelli crossed from the right and Golambeckis, attempting to beat Cerbone to the ball, inadvertently turned it into his own net. Italy’s belief grew, and they came within inches of levelling in the 73rd minute when Cerbone supplied Coletta from the left. His first-time right-footed volley looked destined for the net, only for the England goalkeeper to produce an outstanding save and tip it over the bar.
That warning brought England back to life and they put the result beyond doubt in the 82nd minute. Substitute Lacey raced down the right before curling a superb left-footed effort into the far top corner.
After three minutes of added time, the final whistle sounded at the Camilo Cano, confirming a 3-1 defeat for the Azzurrini in their opening match of the tournament.
Italy U20 1-3 England U20
La Nucía International Tournament
Single group: France, Germany, England, ITALY
Matchday 1 (Friday 25 September)
ITALY 1-3 England
17:30: Germany vs. France, Estadio Olímpico ‘Camilo Cano’
Standings: England 3, France 0, Germany 0, ITALY 0.
Matchday 2 (Tuesday 29 September)
11:30: France vs. England, Estadio Olímpico Camilo Cano
17:30: Germany vs. ITALY, Estadio Olímpico Camilo Cano
Matchday 3 (Saturday 3 October)
11:00: France vs. ITALY, Estadio Olímpico Camilo Cano
17:30: England vs. Germany, Estadio Olímpico Camilo Cano