England Under-21s 3-2 Italy Under-21s: Jack Stephens scores winner

Jack Stephens scored a last-gasp winner as England Under-21s beat Italy Under-21s 3-2 in a thrilling friendly at St Mary's on Wednesday.

Demarai Gray put England ahead in the sixth minute, but Italy replied through a fortuitous own goal from Brendan Galloway and close-range finish from Federico Di Francesco.

Italy were the last side to beat England at Euro 2015, but Lewis Baker levelled on the hour mark and Stephens then snatched victory with the last kick of the match from a corner.

The win is England's 27th in a row at home and stretches their unbeaten record to 15 matches.

It should also provide encouragement for Aidy Boothroyd's side as they continue their preparations for Euro 2017 in Poland.

Stephens was one of three Southampton players to start on their club ground along with Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse, while Gray and Lewis Baker were also included in the XI.

England had won every previous match at St Mary's and they made a flying start.

Calum Chambers headed over from close range from a corner before Redmond fired across goal and narrowly wide.

The breakthrough arrived in the sixth minute as John Swift's cutback wasn't properly cleared and Gray fired in the rebound.

Gray went close to a second as he raced past Mattia Caldara into the box and shot into the side-netting.

But the first half turned on a fortuitous equaliser as Conti's cross took a wicked deflection off Galloway that sent it flying over Angus Gunn and into the far corner.

Italy, who like England were unbeaten in Euro 2017 qualifying, grew in confidence after the goal and they took the lead after 28 minutes as a corner was flicked on at the near post and Di Francesco tapped in from a few yards out.

England lost Reading's Swift to injury, with Will Hughes his replacement, and they didn't look like getting back into the game before half-time.

But they played with more purpose in the second half and went close to an equaliser when Gray struck the bar with a curling shot.

Hughes hit the post minutes later, before setting up Baker to score the equaliser, with Aston Villa keeper Pierluigi Gollini failing to keep out his low shot.

The momentum continued to sway back and forth, with Alberto Cerri flicking a header wide and Gollini then diving at the feet of Duncan Watmore to prevent a shooting chance.

It looked like the game would end all square until the last kick when Chambers' header from a corner was saved and Stephens fired in the rebound from a few yards out.

England U21s: Gunn, Hayden, Galloway, Chalobah, Chambers, Stephens, Baker, Ward-Prowse, Gray, Swift, Redmond.

Used subs: Hughes, Watmore, Abraham.

Italy U21s: Gollini, Conti, Barreca, Mazzitelli, Biraschi, Caldara, Pellegrini, Benassi, Petagna, Ricci, Di Francesco

Used subs: Parigini, Ferrari, Somma, Grassi, Cerri, Cristante, Garritano, Capezzi.