England 3 Italy 5
Friendly International
Stadium of Light, Sunderland AFC
27 November 2002

England paid the price for surrendering the lead three times against Italy in a real thriller at The Stadium of Light.

It was the kind of game where nobody deserved to lose, least of all Newcastle United's young striker Michael Chopra who scored twice to show why they tip him to be the new Alan Shearer at St James' Park.

Chopra, Darren Carter and Chopra again all gave England's youngsters the lead in the first hour - only for the young Azzurri to display the resilience Italian teams at all levels are renowned for.

The visitors equalised three times and then went ahead for the first time midway through the second half through their brilliant forward Emanuele Calaio.

A late Italian hammer-blow gave the scoreline an unfair reflection from England's point of view, although this will be seen as invaluable preparation for the World Youth Championships in March.

Manager Les Reed gave an England debut to Sheffield United's highly-promising midfielder Michael Tonge while Chopra and Dean Ashton were chosen as the front pairing.

The biggest three clubs in the country were also represented in the starting line-up through Jon Otsemoboor (Liverpool), David Fox (Manchester United) and Ryan Garry (Arsenal) whose club-mate Jerome Thomas had to be content with a place on the bench until the final 20 minutes.

It took 15 minutes for either side to carve out the first clear-cut chance in the pouring rain - and England scored from it. Crewe's Ashton was the architect, running away from Luca Franchini after the Italian had slipped on the wet turf and Chopra swept home his strike partner's clever pass from eight yards.

The first sign that Italy wouldn't lie down came after 26 minutes when they levelled against the run of play. Francesco Ruopolo crossed, Emanuele Caliao distracted the English defence and right-back Felice Piccolo of Lucchese was able to sneak in at the far post and beat Preston's 17-year-old goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan.

Birmingham's Carter then went close with a curling free-kick before restoring England's lead with literally the last kick of the first half. Ashton played the ball forward and Carter cleverly waited for 'keeper Vitangelo Spadavecchia to make his move before planting the ball past him.

Reed made two half-time changes, bringing on Shaun Allaway and Neil Austin for Longeran and Leon Hylton respectively, and Richard Offiong replaced Ashton soon afterwards. But it was Italy who made the brighter start to the second period, and Calaio was extremely unlucky when his dipping shot from 25 yards cannoned off the underside of the crossbar.

It was little surprise then when the visitors levelled after 56 minutes. Calaio forced an excellent save by Allaway but unluckily for the goalkeeper the rebound fell to Italian sub Fabio Quagliarella who slotted home for a second Italian equaliser. For the third time, England went ahead after 62 minutes - only for the Italians to incredibly level again within 60 seconds.

Fox's cross was met with a brilliant guiding header from Chopra to make the score 3-2. But the England team then fell asleep, allowing Giandomenico Mesto to burst down the right flank in the very next attack and sweep in a pass for Calaio to score.

The Messina striker then scored again after 66 minutes to put the visitors ahead for the first time. A cross to the far post left England ball-watching and Calaio stuck out a left boot to deflect the ball past a bewildered Allaway.

England's misery was completed after 75 minutes when Allaway handled outside the box, Mesto squared the free-kick across and Marco Donadel gave it the hammer into the top corner from 18 yards.

The only consolation for the crowd in Sunderland was to see one of their own players, Ben Clark, thrown on for the final 15 minutes.

England have one match at under-20 level remaining this year - against Switzerland at Upton Park on December 12.

England: Andrew Lonergan (Preston): John Otsemebor (Liverpool), Calum Davenport (Coventry City), Ryan Garry (Arsenal), Leon Hylton (Aston Villa) David Fox (Manchester United), Gary O'Neil (Portsmouth), Darren Carter (Birmingham), Michael Chopra (Newcastle United), Dean Ashton (Crewe), Michael Tonge (Sheffield United)
Subs: Allaway (Leeds United) for Lonergan 45, Austin (Barnsley) for Hylton 45, Offiong (Newcastle) for Ashton 52, Thomas (Arsenal) for Tonge 70, Clarke (Sunderland) for Fox 75

Italy: Spadavecchia: Piccolo, Micolucci, Gastaldello, Franchini, Donadel, Mesto, Beati, Calaio, Ruopolo, Pagano Subs: Scotti, Abbate, Stendardo, Berardi, Quadri, Quagliarella, Altobelli

Attendance: 6,554

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