Six-goal thriller and late disappointment for Sheffield Wednesday attacker
Sheffield Wednesday loanee, Joel Ndala, started for England’s U20s as they took on Italy in Rome this afternoon.
Ndala, who is on loan with the Owls from Manchester City, has been in and out of Henrik Pedersen’s side during his time at Hillsborough, but was handed a start by Neil Ryan today at the Riano Athletic Centre as the Young Lions took on their Italian counterparts.
Things were looking rosy for the English, too, with Tom Watson getting a first half brace before Ayden Heaven made it 3-0 in the 58th minute. They were by no means dominant, with the hosts seeing a penalty saved, but the away side did take their chances and proved to be clinical in front of goal.
It was after the hour mark that the problems started, though, with Matteo Lavelli pulling a goal back for Italy. Giacomo Stabile got another five minutes later, and then Dominic Vavassori popped up in the 89th minute to complete the comeback. Ndala played 88 minutes in the Italian capital, and was off the field by the time the equaliser came along. While it was only a friendly, it will still have come as a disappointment.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Devlan Moses has been named on the bench for Northern Ireland’s U21s as they take on Germany this evening, and he’ll be desperate to make his debut at that level later tonight as he bids to take his remarkable domestic form onto the international stage.
More games are to follow for Wednesday’s players in the coming days, with Marvelous Nakamba (Zimbabwe), as well as Will Grainger and Logan Stretch (Wales U19s) in action on Saturday afternoon.