England 1 2 Italy

U17 Pepsi International Tournament
Cheltenham Town FC
4 September 2005

England have been beaten by Italy in the final U17 Pepsi International Tournament match, as the Azzurri's three points saw them jump to the top of the group and lift the 2005 trophy.

A first half strike from Cristian Palumbo and a header from Massimiliano Tagliani in the second half were enough to seal victory, despite a spectacular consolation from Jamie Chandler.

England started the match knowing that a draw would be enough to hand them victory in this year's tournament, but looked intent on pushing for the win in the opening exchanges.

With just five minutes on the clock West Ham's James Tomkins fired wide, and shortly after captain Joshua Walker clipped the bar from outside the area.

However it was the Italians that took the lead as a well worked move saw Cristian Pasquato thread the ball through the English defence to Palumbo, who made no mistake with his finish, neatly chipping 'keeer David Button.

Mariato then had a golden opportunity to double Italy's lead as the momentum swung away from England, but he couldn't convert from just outside the six-yard box.

Coach John Peacock introduced Daniel Sturridge and Theo Walcott at the break and they almost combined to give England the equaliser ten minutes into the half. Sturridge could only fire wide, however, after Walcott's pull-back into the six-yard box.

England pushed forward in their attempts to get the vital goal needed, but were caught out 15 minutes from time as Tagliani met a cross from the left to head home.

Chandler's beautifully struck 35-yard effort that cannoned down off the crossbar and over the line was the perfect response, but despite surging forward for the equaliser the Italians held on to lift the trophy.

England: Button, Rodgers, Cork, Tomkins, Molyneux, Kissock (Thomson 64), Randall (Walcott 53), Walker (c), Chandler, Porritt, Nardiello (Sturridge 46)

England Goals: Chandler 67

Italy Goals: Palumbo 22, Tagliani 65

Referee: Alan Wiley
Attendance: 2,534