England 2-2 Italy

The Nationwide Under 17 Tournament
Monday 8th July, Kassam Stadium, Oxford

A terrific display of fast-paced attacking football teamed with hard work and aggression from England's Under 17s deserved more than a point in their opening Nationwide Tournament match, but a lapse in concentration with time running out allowed Italy to grab an equaliser to put the competition all square.

Though the rain clouds had moved on after Brazil and the Czechs 1-1 draw, England and Italy took to the wet Kassam Stadium pitch and it was the host who almost had a slippery start when, with only 2 minutes gone, Leonardo Bianchi snook on to a neat through ball on the edge of England's box, but his guided pass towards the far corner went the wrong side of the post

England then got into their stride with Aaron Lennon and Jonathan Forte working hard forward and backward on either flank, and the positive passes of Grant Leadbitter in the centre of midfield - with his Beckhamesque locks, circa 1998. And it was his teasing cross, worthy of the senior skipper, which created the opening goal from which Luke Moore profitted on 17 minutes.

As the ball looked destined for the arms of Italy's number one Fabio Virgili, in came the Villa striker to the surprise of the keeper and 5,000 plus spectators, to nod home.

This sparked Moore to life and almost straight from the restart he had regained possession and started work advancing through the Italian defence before taking on the keeper again. This time his touch was too wide for a shot of his own, and his cross was nudged away for a corner.

But Italy came back looking for an equaliser as their strong running number 10, Moreno Capra, probed down the left. But for all his trickery, the equaliser came on 23 minutes from the other side of the park and the boot of Piermarino Morosini.

From all of 25 yards the Atalanta youngster took his chance to shoot and was rewarded when the ball took a wicked downward deflection that sent the ball off the turf and over the reach of the out-stretched Michael Jordan before crashing into the net via the cross bar.

The Three Lions were not disheartened though, and Lennon continued to work his magic cutting his left-back marker down to size on more than one occasion causing anxiety in the Azzurri box.

John Peacock's side were now playing with great confidence as they seaqrched again for the lead, and when it didn't come from long-range efforts from Leadbitter, Philip Ifil and Tom Huddlestone the deft touch of Moore showed them how.

Two minutes before the break, with his back to goal he evaded the challenge of a blue shirt as he turned to nudge the ball goalward allowing himself the space to lift it over the advancing Virgili, too early for the closing defence, and the net had some company once more.

The second half began and England looked to extend their lead and confirm their offensive superiority, and the skill and pace of Leeds United's Aaron Lennon was a regular source of amusement for the fans and bemusement for the Azzurri.

8 Minutes into the second forty, his direct run past two defenders allowed him to feed the ball to Jonathan Forte on the edge of the area, but the young Blade's chip was too high.

Italy did have a couple of half chances midway through the second period, a scramble in the England area which fell to Andrea Bovo to prod wide but the most concerning was Alessandro Simonetta's strike from the left corner of the box that went narrowly wide.

But England maintained sufficient control to return to the business end to keep Virgili busy.

Though the imp-like Lennon was the main threat with the ball at his feet on the right, the somewhat bigger form of Jonathan Forte was just as progressive on occasions down the left teaming up well with full back Michael Gillan, and at one point even skipper Steven Taylor marauded forward to advance further than any other white shirt as England played without fear.

But inevitably it was Lennon who'd have the keys in his hand, but he just couldn't find the right door to open, once beating four defenders to fire just wide, then deciding on making the ball do the work rather than himself as he guided a curling effort past Virgili, but was this time to be thwarted by the upright.

If anyone deserved a goal it was he, but instead of the young lions emphasising their victory, a poor pass out of defence five minutes from time caused them to concede it, when Simonetta netted from close range giving Jordan no chance.

Afterwards coach John Peacock told TheFA.com, "I don't know how we didn't win that match, we played very well, especially in the second half and created several chances.

"There was a lot of quality throughout the 80 minutes, our passing was good and we showed good composure on the ball.

"Unfortunately there was some sloppy play in defence at the end and Italy punished us."

Comparing his opponents to the last encounter at the Montaigu Tournament in March, he added, "This was a stronger Italian team tonight, they have obviously done their homework and tried to stop us playing,"

Looking ahead to Thursday's game with the Czech Republic he said, "We will stay positive, continue to believe in ourselves, but we know that we need to defend that little bit better."

England: Jordan, Ifil, Gillan, Huddlestone, McMahon, Taylor (c), Leadbitter (Doyle 69), Moore (Bowditch 55), Forte (Smith 66), O'Hara, Lennon

Goals: Moore 17, 38

Italy: Virgili, Motta, Briotti, Marzoratti (Melara 68), Morosini, Bianchi, Bovo, Capra (Simonetta 41), Bagarollo, Aurelio (Bilardo 41)

Goals: Morosini 23, Simonetta 78

Attendance: 5,292

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