England MU20s 1-1 Italy

 

Andy Edwards' side could perhaps feel unfortunate not to have edged a win though, with Italian goalkeeper Ludovico Gelmi proving tough to beat in the second half after both teams had scored before the break.

 

But with chances at either end in a fast-flowing game, the result could've gone either way and Edwards will be pleased with the Young Lions' all-round performance.

 

It was England who had the first real chance of the game too, when Sam Greenwood's near-post shot was well saved by Gelmi who went on to have an impressive evening.

 

The visitors began to find their feet after that in what was a lively atmosphere, and Gaetano Oristanio forced James Trafford into a smart save midway through the first half.

 

Ten minutes after that, Italy took the lead via Daniel Maldini's back-post header following a counter attack from the right.

But England got themselves deservedly level four minutes before the break, when an attack from the right wasn't cleared by the Italian defence leaving Lewis Bate to fire home into the bottom corner with his left foot.

 

The same rhythm continued in the second half with both teams creating chances, but it was England who came closest when Greenwood's free-kick around the wall had the 'keeper beaten only to bounce back off the post.

 

And then Jaden Philogene-Bidace saw a fine strike from inside the box well saved by Gelmi as the hosts pushed for a win.

 

With the game in stoppage time, Gelmi denied England again, this time with a save from substitute Morgan Rogers' long-range shot.

Edwards and his squad will now head to Czech Republic for their second game of the month on Monday.

England: 1 James Trafford (Accrington Stanley, loan from Manchester City), 2 Cody Drameh (Leeds United), 3 Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland), 4 Jensen Weir (Cambridge United, loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), 5 James Hill (Fleetwood Town), 6 Nathan Wood (Hibernian, loan from Middlesbrough) (c), 7 James McAtee (Manchester City), 8 Lewis Bate (Leeds United), 9 Sam Greenwood (Leeds United), 10 Faustino Anjorin (Lokomotiv Moscow, loan from Chelsea), 11 Jaden Philogene Bidace (Aston Villa)

 

Substitutes: 14 Morgan Rogers (AFC Bournemouth, loan from Manchester City) for Anjorin 61, 14 Miguel Azeez (Portsmouth, loan from Arsenal) for Bate 71, 21 Henry Lawrence (AFC Wimbledon, loan from Chelsea) for Cirkin 73, 19 Jay Stansfield (Fulham) for Greenwood 89

 

Substitutes not used: 12 Kaine Kesler Hayden (Aston Villa), 13 Matthew Cox (Brentford),  15 Teden Mengi (Manchester United), 16 Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), 17 Morgan Rogers (AFC Bournemouth, loan from Manchester City), 18 Leighton Clarkson (Blackburn Rovers, loan from Liverpool),  20 Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Crystal Palace),  22 Bradley Young (Leicester City)

Goal: Lewis Bate 41