ANDROS TOWNSEND NETTED a superb late equaliser as England and Italy played out a 1-1 friendly draw.
England’s 2-1 defeat to Italy in their opening game of last year’s World Cup set the tone for a disappointing campaign for Roy Hodgson’s men, crashing out ignominiously at the group stage. And, after Graziano Pelle scored a 29th-minute header in Turin, England looked set to be heading for another defeat at the hands of the Azzurri.
Italy coach Antonio Conte had his own point to prove having been subjected to death threats for the alleged role played by his training methods in a knee injury suffered by Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio - later found to be not as serious as first thought.
However, the match was to end in disappointment for the ex-Juve coach on his old stomping ground, as Townsend’s thunderous 79th-minute strike from the edge of the area extended England’s unbeaten run to nine matches.
Hodgson got a little mixed up in his post-match interview and claimed Townsend’s goal earned them “a point”.
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