Italy will face Denmark in the European Under-17 Championship semi-final after eliminating England on penalties and a stunning Mattia Liberali solo slalom.
England opened the scoring when Ethan Nwaneri curled left-footed into the far top corner from just inside the penalty area, but the damage was done when Cristian Cama saw his risky midfield pass intercepted to spark the counter-attack.
A stunning strike from Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri has England leading their U17 Euros quarter-final with Italy 🤩
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Cama had the ball in the back of the net on 27 minutes, but only after wandering offside on the Francesco Camarda assist.
Italy did equalise with a simply sensational solo effort from Milan youngster Mattia Liberali, who gathered a throw-in and went on a slalom through England defenders inside the penalty area, dribbling past three before drilling low into the near bottom corner from 10 yards.
Take a bow Mattia Liberali ✨
The Italian winger's magical run and finish has put Italy back on level terms against England.
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The Azzurrini nearly turned it around completely before half-time, as full-back Emanuel Benjamin saw his strike come off the upright.
Alessandro Longoni had to be quick off his line to get a clean hand on the ball before Shumaira Mheuka could pounce, then flew to palm the same player’s scorching finish over the bar.
Federico Coletta’s header forced a tricky save at the near post from Oliver Whatmuff and a Nwaneri free kick thumped the outside of the near post.
Cama flashed a shot across the face of goal from a tricky angle and Longoni made an astonishing reaction save using his boot to deny Christopher Rigg from point-blank range.
Italy ran a big risk in the final minute, Lamine Ballo deflecting a corner onto his own upright, then in stoppages Harrison’s strike was cleared off the line by Ballo.
How close can you get? 😩
England piled on the pressure in stoppage time but could not find a winning goal in their U17 Euros quarter-final with Italy.
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They could not be separated and it went to a penalty shoot-out in Larnaca, Cyprus.
Milan youth goalkeeper Longoni parried from Ollie Harrison and very nearly got to the Harry Amass spot-kick too, but crucially Italy converted all five of their penalties to go through.
Italy net all five of their penalties to advance to the U17 Euros semi-finals at the expense of England's Young Lions 🔜
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— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 30, 2024
Italy 1-1 England (5-4 pens)
Nwaneri 16 (E), Liberali 29 (I)
Penalties: Moore (E, goal), Lauricella (I, goal), Harrison (E, saved), Natali (I, goal), Amass (E, goal), Orlandi (I, goal), Nwaneri (E, goal), Liberali (I, goal), Dipepa (E, goal), Camarda (I, goal)
Italy U17: Longoni; Benjamin (Ballo 74), Natali, Garofalo, Cama (Lauricella 83); Sala (Lontani 74), Coletta, Di Nunzio (Mantini 66); Liberali, Camarda, Mosconi (Orlandi 74)
England U17: Whatmuff; Amissah, Mfuni, McFarlane; Shahar, Mukasa (Olusesi 59), J Fletcher (Harrison 46), Rigg (Amass 83), Moore; Nwaneri, Mheuka (Dipepa 59)
Bravi Ragazzi!
Forz’Azzurrinni!
High level penalty shootout. Longoni did well to make a decent save. Camarda’s pen was unstoppable was 3 of the other 4 were beautifully placed into the bottom corner. no chance for the England keeper. Bravi