U17 Euro: Italy eliminate England in dramatic penalty shoot-out | OneFootball

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.

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.

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.

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 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)