Report: England MU19s 2-2 Italy

England men's Under-19s drew 2-2 with Italy in their first of three internationals in Croatia this week.

The Young Lions fell two goals behind early on but fought back to square the game via goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Leo Black at Stadium Nedelišće.

The Italians started the faster of the two sides and took the lead in the fourth minute when Fini Seydou cut in on his left foot to score.

In hot conditions, Will Antwi's side struggled to find their rhythm and they were two down after 40 minutes when Diego Sia fired home.

They had halved their deficit by half-time, though, when good work from Nwaneri released Romelle Donovan away down the right before he squared back to the Arsenal man to score.

Nwaneri had the opportunity to equalise 10 minutes into the second period but saw a penalty saved down to the Italian goalkeeper's right.

The tourists' persistence was finally rewarded four minutes from time, however, when substitute Black scored with a fine effort to secure a draw.

England play Croatia at Stadium Koprivnica on Saturday 7 September (3.45pm BST) before they take on Germany at the same venue on Tuesday 10 September (3.30pm BST).

England: 1 Finlay Herrick (West Ham United), 2 Matthew Henderson-Hall (Manchester City), 3 Ishe Samuels-Smith (Chelsea), 4 Myles Lewis-Skelly (C) (Arsenal), 5 Josh Acheampong (Chelsea), 6 Joe Johnson (Luton Town), 7 Romelle Donovan (Birmingham City), 8 Reiss Russell-Denny (Chelsea), 9, Ethan Wheatley (Manchester United), 10 Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), 11 Tyrique George (Chelsea)

Substitutes: 21 Mikey Moore (Tottenham Hotspur) for George 61, 19 Josh Ajala (West Ham United) for Denny 61, 17 Samuel Amo-Ameyaw (Southampton) for Achemapong 61, 15 Harrison Murray-Campbell (Chelsea) for Donovan 61, 18 Michael Golding (Leicester City) for Wheatley 61, 16 Aydon Heaven (Arsenal) for Henderson-Hall 76, 14 Kiano Dyer (Chelsea) for Lewis-Skelly 76, 12 Leo Black (Tottenham Hotspur) for Samuels-Smith 76, 23 Jayden Meghoma (Southampton) for Johnson 76, 20 Tyler Dibling (Southampton) for Nwaneri 76

Substitutes not used: 13 Tommy Setford (Arsenal), 22 Sam Proctor (Aston Villa)

Head coach: Will Antwi

Goals: Ethan Nwaneri (40), Leo Black (86)