Rhian Brewster scored twice inside the opening five minutes as England Under-21s defeated Italy in a friendly in Pescara.
Brewster, 22, placed a third-minute penalty into the bottom corner after Edoardo Bove fouled Conor Gallagher.
The Sheffield United forward doubled the lead with a delicate chipped finish following Angel Gomes’ through ball.
Italy finished the match with 10 men as captain Nicolo Rovella was sent off after receiving a late second booking.
England went close to extending their advantage but Chelsea midfielder Gallagher was denied by a last-ditch block from Caleb Okoli, while defender Levi Colwill hit the post with a header from a corner in first-half injury time.
Lee Carsley’s side, who secured qualification in June for next summer’s European Under-21 Championship, will next play Germany in a friendly at Bramall Lane on Tuesday at 19:45 BST.
Line-ups
Italy U21
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Plizzari
- 15Okoli
- 4Scalvini
- 14VitiSubstituted forCittadiniat 45′minutes
- 16CambiasoSubstituted forBellanovaat 68′minutes
- 8BoveSubstituted forFagioliat 45′minutes
- 10RovellaBooked at 86mins
- 18MirettiSubstituted forVignatoat 68′minutes
- 13ParisiSubstituted forUdogieat 45′minutes
- 23CambiaghiSubstituted forEspositoat 45′minutes
- 11PellegriSubstituted forColomboat 28′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bellanova
- 3Udogie
- 5Pirola
- 6Canestrelli
- 7Colombo
- 9Moro
- 12Caprile
- 17Ranocchia
- 19Esposito
- 20Vignato
- 21Sorrentino
- 22Turati
- 24Fagioli
- 25Cittadini
- 26Ruggeri
England U21
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Bursik
- 15Cresswell
- 5Harwood-BellisSubstituted forMbeteat 90+3′minutes
- 4ColwillSubstituted forThomasat 71′minutes
- 12SpenceSubstituted forAaronsat 71′minutes
- 20GomesBooked at 17minsSubstituted forDoyleat 71′minutes
- 6SkippBooked at 69minsSubstituted forGarnerat 71′minutes
- 3R SessegnonSubstituted forGordonat 71′minutes
- 23PalmerSubstituted forElliottat 72′minutes
- 7BrewsterBooked at 14minsSubstituted forBalogunat 72′minutes
- 10GallagherSubstituted forJ Ramseyat 72′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Aarons
- 8J Ramsey
- 9Balogun
- 11Gordon
- 13Griffiths
- 14Garner
- 16Mbete
- 17Thomas
- 18Doyle
- 19Elliott
- 21McAtee
- 22Trafford
- 24Morton
Live Text
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Match ends, Italy U21 0, England U21 2.
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Second Half ends, Italy U21 0, England U21 2.
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Substitution, England U21. Luke Mbete replaces Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
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Corner, Italy U21. Conceded by Max Aarons.
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Attempt saved. Folarin Balogun (England U21) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jacob Ramsey.
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Salvatore Esposito (Italy U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tommy Doyle (England U21).
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Corner, England U21. Conceded by Caleb Okoli.
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Attempt blocked. Tommy Doyle (England U21) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Foul by Nicolò Fagioli (Italy U21).
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Tommy Doyle (England U21) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Second yellow card to Nicolò Rovella (Italy U21) for a bad foul.
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Foul by Nicolò Rovella (Italy U21).
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Jacob Ramsey (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Lorenzo Colombo (Italy U21) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Raoul Bellanova with a cross.
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Nicolò Rovella (Italy U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jacob Ramsey (England U21).
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Corner, Italy U21. Conceded by James Garner.
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Foul by Giorgio Cittadini (Italy U21).
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Jacob Ramsey (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
