England 2-0 Italy
The FA International U17 Tournament
3pm, Sunday 31 August 2008
Sixfields Stadium, Northampton Town FC
Click here for tournament details.
England finished a creditable second in The FA International U17 Tournament after overcoming a stubborn Italy at Sixfields on Sunday afternoon.
The impressive Ryan Tunnicliffe scored a superb brace to ensure all three points and continue his good form in The Tournament, with a third goal in as many games for the Manchester United youngster.
He opened the scoring in the first half after he coolly finished from an incisive England breakaway, with his second coming in the last minute of the game as he put away the rebound from his own penalty after Cameron Park had been brought down by Italy 'keeper Mirko Ranieri.
The two teams were both locked on three points before the game and Head Coach John Peacock will no doubt be pleased to finish as runners-up in the gruelling tournament, which saw the youngsters play three games in five days.
Unfortunately Portugal, who beat England in the tournament opener at Nene Park, were too strong for Israel earlier in the day and finish as winners.
At the Sixfields, England were much more of a threat throughout the game, with the impressive John Bostock marshalling the team well from central midfield and they almost scored in the first few minutes as Jacob Walcott thundered the woodwork from Tunnicliffe's clever ball inside.
In reply, Ryan Allsop had to be quick off his line for England as Albert Libertazzi was played in on goal from a clever pass for Simone Dell'Agnello, with the 'keeper doing well to block his shot.
But England still looked the better side and deservedly took the lead on 27 minutes with a lightning fast break. Bostock broke superbly from the middle and spread the ball out to Walcott, he teased the Italians before passing to the overlapping Keanu Marsh-Brown who superbly picked out Tunnicliffe from his pull back. The midfielder then gave the 'keeper no chance with his low right footed finish.
The second half was a tad scrappier as both teams started to feel the exertions of the first two games. Chances were few and far between, with Bostock seeing a shot well saved by Ranieri.
And the English defence was impressive, with Edward Oshodi and Tom Parkes not giving the Italians a sniff.
Things looked destined to end 1-0 but in the closing stages the lively Park was brought down by Ranieri. Tunnicliffe stepped up to take the penalty, and after his shot was well-saved by the goalkeeper, he pounced to fire in the rebound and give England a victory that was completely deserved.
England: Ryan Allsop, Keanu Marsh-Brown, Eddie Oshodi (Sam Mantom, 70), Tom Parkes, Ezekiel Fryers, Jacob Walcott, Ryan Tunnicliffe, John Bostock (c), Kieran Edwards, Cameron Park (Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, 78) Tom Hitchcock (Ahmed Benali, 74)
Subs not used: Jamie Reckord, Deale Chamberlain, Abdulai Baggie, Carl Jenkinson
Italy: Ranieri, Cremaschi, Sini (Frascotore, 56), Benedetti, Natalino (Pompolio, 69), De Vitis, Libertazzi, El Shaarawi, Camporese,Dell'Agnello (Pettinari, 40), Ceccarelli
Subs not used: Campoli, Gallinetta, Carraro, Conti
Attendance: 1378