Pazzini scores first goal at new Wembley

England U-21 3 Italy U-21 3 : Italy youngster Gianpaolo Pazzini stole the limelight in the first match at the new Wembley Stadium…

England U-21 3 Italy U-21 3: Italy youngster Gianpaolo Pazzini stole the limelight in the first match at the new Wembley Stadium by scoring a hat-trick and forcing a high-scoring draw against England Under-21s.

Pazzini opened the scoring in the first minute of the friendly in front of 60,000 fans then grabbed two equalisers in the second half after the hosts had dragged themselves back into the game.

He should have scored a winner with 12 minutes to go but sliced a shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

David Bentley became the first England player to score at the new ground when he equalised in the first half, and Wayne Routledge and debutant Matt Derbyshire were the other scorers.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • What’s making headlines in the rugby world? Listen to The Counter Ruck podcast with Nathan Johns

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered to your phone