Report: Italy 1-3 England MU20s

England men’s under-20s opened their U20 Euro Elite League Campaign with a 3-1 victory over Italy at the Estadi Olympic Camilo Cano, in Spain.

Jesse Derry fired in the opening goal before half time, and Mikey Moore and Shea Lacey scored either side of an Italy consolation strike to give Darren Moore his first victory as the MU20s head coach.

The Young Lions started the game on the front foot and worked goalkeeper Lapo Siviero early on, forcing the Italian ‘keeper into a handful of saves.

Moore’s side dominated the early opportunities but failed to break the deadlock in the first 20 minutes, despite having several chances from set-piece situations.

As the half drew to a close, the Young Lions made their dominance count as they took the lead. Souleymane Sidibe played Derry through on goal, and the forward fired past Siviero in the 37th minute to send England into the interval with the advantage.

England continued to create opportunities in the second half and extended their lead just seven minutes after the restart. Derry turned provider with his cut-back finding captain Moore, who netted on debut for his first under-20s goal.

However, Italy found a way back into the game shortly after the hour mark via an Airidas Golambeckis own goal.

Despite this setback, England continued to create chances and regained their two-goal advantage in the final ten minutes as substitute Shea Lacey cut inside and found the back of the net to fire Moore’s side to victory.

The Young Lions will remain in Spain for the international window as they continue their Euro Elite League campaign against France and Germany, with the game against Les Bleuets at 10:30am on Tuesday 29 September.

England: 1 Oliver Whatmuff (Stockport County, on loan from Manchester City), 2 Souleymane Sidibe (PSV Eindhoven II), 3 Harry Amass (Manchester United), 4 Trey Nyoni (Liverpool), 5 Ayden Heaven (Manchester United), 6 Airidas Golambeckis (West Ham United), 8 Christopher Rigg (Sunderland), 10 Divine Mukasa (West Ham United, loan from Manchester City), 11 Mikey Moore (1. FC Köln, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), 14 Harrison Armstrong (Everton), 18 Jesse Derry (Sporting Club De Portugal, loan from Chelsea)

Substitutions: 7 Shea Lacey (Manchester United) for Derry 71’

Substitutes not used: 13 Nicholas Michalski (Crawley Town, loan from Blackburn Rovers),  22 Khari Ranson (Arsenal), 12 Ezra Mayers (West Ham United), 15 Kian Noble (Manchester City), 16 Brooklyn Nfonkeu-Feuba (Manchester City),17 Christian McFarlane (Leicester City), 19 Jack Fletcher (Manchester United), 21 Jim Thwaites (Manchester United), 23 Andre Harriman-Annous (Arsenal), 20 Jay Robinson (Associazione Calcio Monza, loan from Southampton), 9 Shumaira Mheuka (Celtic, loan from Chelsea)

Head coach: Darren Moore

Goals: Derry 37’, Moore 52’, Lacey 82’