England U-21 2 Italy U-21 2: Lita redeemed but Aquilani steals England's thunder

In oppressive conditions under the Arnhem roof, which had been closed because of the threat of thunderstorms, a crowd of 17,103 saw the best match of the European Under-21 Championship finals last night. Stuart Pearce's side, switching from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 following a goalless draw with the Czech Republic, had to be satisfied with a point that could easily have been a defeat against gifted opposition. The result keeps them ahead of Italy and the Czechs but means that victory on Sunday against Serbia, who have already won Group B, is likely to be required for a place in the semi-final. The Aston Villa winger Ashley Young, who had an excellent game, will be suspended.

There were seven yellow cards in all and, roof or not, a storm was always in the offing. At the final whistle Italy's coach, the former Chelsea forward Pierluigi Casiraghi, declined to shake Pearce's hand, and later observed: "He's not the nicest person, he was disrespectful to me." But the England manager was too pleased with his team's improved performance to make an issue of it. "A fantastic spectacle of guts by both teams," he said. "I was so proud of the squad."

Welcome as those qualities are more is required and Italy had the edge in quality. Had more of their remarkable total of 31 shots been on target, they would have completed a recovery from the blow of conceding twice in three minutes just before the half-hour.

Early on Steven Taylor met Young's corner with a firm header that Emiliano Viviano did superbly to keep out. Two extraordinary misses by Leroy Lita's golden boots followed, the first dragged past the same post as his penalty miss against the Czechs and the second driven against the bar from three yards. In the 24th minute, however, came a goal, a low header by Nugent from Leighton Baines' cross. Before the Italians could compose themselves there was redemption for Lita, knocking in Young's pass.

Yet Italy might have been level by the interval. In the 35th minute Alberto Aquilani's corner led to a spell of pinball and an emphatic drive by the captain Giorgio Chiellini. A minute later Giampaolo Pazzini met Chiellini's whipped cross and Scott Carson had to dive to his left for the first of several good saves.

The breathless pace continued in the second half, though there was only one further goal. Nugent had dropped deep and the whole team were being pushed backwards as Manchester United's substitute Giuseppe Rossi became an influential figure. The price was paid in the 68th minute when Roma's Aquilani hit another fine shot low past Carson from 25 yards. England finished hanging on but with their unbeaten run stretched to 11 games.

England (4-4-2): Carson (Liverpool); Hoyte (Arsenal), Onuoha (Manchester City), Taylor (Newcastle United), Baines (Wigan); Milner (Newcastle United), Noble, Reo-Coker (both West Ham United), Young (Aston Villa); Lita (Reading), Nugent (Preston).

Substitutes used: Whittingham (Cardiff) for Nugent 68; Vaughan (Everton) for Lita, 83; Richardson (Manchester United) for Reo-Coker, 89.

Italy (4-1-4-1): Viviano (Bescia); Raggi (Empoli), Mantovani (Chievo Verona), Andreolli (Inter), Chiellini (Juventus); Nocerino (Piacenza); Rosina (Torino), Aquilani (Roma), Montolivio (Fiorentina), Palladino (Juventus); Pazzini (Fiorentina). Substitutes used: Motta (Udinese) for Raggi h-t; Rossi (Manchester United) for Palladino h-t; Criscito (Genoa) for Mantovani, 58.

Referee: D Skomina (Slovenia).