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Dominic Solanke scored twice in the second half as a Sheyi Ojo-inspired England came from behind to beat Italy 3-1 and secure a World Cup final spot in South Korea.
Riccardo Orsolini had fired Italy into an early lead in Jeonju, but after a limp showing in the first half, Paul Simpson’s men came roaring back in the second period.
With Liverpool youngster Ojo coming off the bench and creating chance after chance, they dominated the Azzurrini and found a deserved equaliser as Solanke pounced on a goalkeeping error.
Everton’s Ademola Lookman put the youngsters in front after more fine work from Ojo – who made just two senior appearances for the Reds last term after recovering from a fractured back.
And when Solanke found the net with just two minutes remaining, the comeback was complete, and a spot in Sunday’s final, where they will take on Venezuela, was secured.
England got off to a nightmare start, falling behind after just two minutes.
Lewis Cook was penalised for handball and showed inexperience in immediately returning the ball to the Azzurini – while out of position – and they countered ruthlessly.
A quick-free-kick and clever through ball found Andrea Favilli clear down the left, and he cut inside to tee up Orsolini, whose unerring first-time finish whizzed past Freddie Woodman.
It was the Ascoli winger’s fifth goal of the tournament, having scored in every game since the Italians’ opening defeat against Uruguay.
Paul Simpson’s side played their way into the match, with Solanke prominent, drifting in behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, rather than leading the line.
However, much of the first half possession possessed neither punch nor penetration, with the Young Lions missing the creativity and running power of suspended midfielder Josh Onomah.
The best moments came through Ademola Lookman, the Everton winger, but against a well-organised backline, few opportunities were forthcoming in a disjointed half, until the stroke of half-time.
First, Kyle Walker-Peters cross from the left was glanced just wide of the far post by Solanke and, 45 seconds later, a driving run from the ex-Chelsea youngster led to him stinging the palms of Andrea Zaccagno.
Solanke looked England’s most likely, and he again went close early in the second half.
Once more picking up the ball deep, he drove over the halfway line shrugging off challenges from Italian defenders, before firing over the bar left-footed.
With his side in the ascendancy, Simpson rolled the dice and brought on Liverpool winger Ojo – who barely played during the club season due to a fractured back and his subsequent recovery work – to add more impetus to the England attack
Certainly, it worked.
Ojo’s arrival coincided with Simpson’s side create a flurry of chances. Ojo went close within seconds of arriving on the scene, while moments later Everton fullback Jonjoe Kenny drilled agonisingly wide with a 20-yard effort. A freekick from Ojo would then clip the outside of the post.
Ojo’s arrival had added fresh zest to the England attack, his pace, movement and confidence with the ball at the feet causing the Italian defence problems that hadn’t been on offer during the first period; in the 66th minute, he played his part in a deserved equaliser.
Scampering down the right, he fired over a cross which Zaccagno dealt with dismally, his attempted punch landing right at the feet of Solanke, who couldn’t miss from seven yards.
Buoyed by their leveller, the Young Lions continued to press, looking for a winner and remaining on the front foot. And 13 minutes from time, they deservedly took the lead.
Again Ojo made a telling contribution, driving down the right and swinging over an excellent cross which caused further panic in the Italian defence – allowing Lookman to smash into the net from close range.
And when Solanke’s 25-yarder flew through the fingertips of Zaccagno in the 88th minute, England’s final spot was secured.
They will meet Venezuela who saw off South American rivals Uruguay in the other semi-final, winning 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, in Seoul on Sunday.
