Tonight has seen Manchester City begin their Carabao Cup defence in style with a 5-0 win over Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium. A brace from Floyd Samba, plus goals from Rayan Cherki, Allan, and Ryan McAidoo, sealed Manchester City's victory. Enzo Maresca's side will now face Brighton in the fourth-round of the competition after they swept aside Norwich City tonight.
Enzo Maresca used tonight's third-round Carabao Cup tie as an opportunity to rotate his squad. Maresca made 10 changes from the starting eleven which beat Manchester United at Old Trafford. Gerónimo Rulli, Floyd Samba and Allan all made their debuts for Manchester City, which was a special moment for each player.
Manchester City began the game brightly. Enzo Maresca's side were patient and composed in possession to begin the match. Norwich City were looking to be tight and compact in defence and hit on the break when the opportunity arose. Rico Lewis fired the first significant shot of the game over the crossbar in the 9th minute. Abdukodir Khusanov played a ball to Floyd Samba in midfield, and Samba's neat flick set Lewis clean through on goal. However, Lewis fired a great chance over the crossbar and Norwich City keeper Daniel Grimshaw was happy to see Lewis' shot fly harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
As the game ticked into the 20th minute, there was a laboured feel to proceedings. Enzo Maresca's side were dominating possession without creating any real openings. Norwich City were defending resolutely and did look to carry a threat on the rare occasions that they did get forward. Papa Diallo on the left wing in particular did look to be an outlet for Norwich City with his pace and power.
Manchester City took the lead in the 29th minute. Nico O'Reilly was played into space on the left and the England international floated a cross to the back post. Norwich keeper Daniel Grimshaw got a hand to the ball but he only succeeded in palming the ball to Allan. Allan played a first-time cross back into a dangerous area. Floyd Samba scored a diving header on target that beat Daniel Grimshaw to give City a 1-0 lead. It was a clever finish by Floyd Samba and the young attacking midfielder had his first goal on first team debut for Manchester City. It was a fantastic moment for Samba, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Enzo Maresca's side doubled their lead three minutes later. City played through midfield and Ayyoub Bouaddi received a nice first-time ball from Floyd Samba before playing a quality through ball to Rayan Cherki, who was in behind the Norwich City defence after finding acres of space on the left. Cherki raced clear and beat the oncoming Daniel Grimshaw with a composed right-footed finish from just outside the penalty area to double City's lead.
Floyd Samba would curl an effort over the crossbar in the 37th minute. Samba was picked out by Ayyoub Bouaddi just inside the Norwich City penalty area. Samba, filled with confidence from his early goal and overall display, attempted to curl an effort into the top corner from just inside the penalty area. However, his effort went high and wide. What was prominent, as it was for Rayan Cherki's goal, was when Ayyoub Bouaddi had space to pick out a pass he was unlocking the Norwich City defence with ease.
Outside of a Rayan Ait-Nouri shot that was fired over the bar, the remainder of the first half played out without incident. Manchester City would take a well-deserved 2-0 lead into the interval. Enzo Maresca's side had dominated possession and were good value for their lead.
Manchester City barely raised a sweat during the first half. It took time for a new-look City lineup to click into gear. But when they did, Norwich City didn't have an answer. The performances of Floyd Samba and Ayyoub Bouaddi were superb. Samba was lively up front and his goal was a special moment and well-deserved for his efforts. Bouaddi was a cut above and when he had space to pick out an incisive pass his impact was tremendous. Rayan Cherki was also a cut above throughout the first half and his goal, plus his tricks and flicks were entertaining as always.
Ryan McAidoo replaced Rayan Cherki at halftime as Enzo Maresca looked to be saving Cherki for Sunday's Premier League fixture against Sunderland . Ryan McAidoo slotted in on the right wing with Allan moving to the left wing. Rayan Ait-Nouri moved to left-back with Nico O'Reilly slotting into midfield as the number ten.
Manchester City took a 3-0 lead in the 48th minute. Allan received possession from Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left wing. The Brazilian winger drove at Norwich City defender Sam Field , who was stranded on an island against Allan. Allan's dribbling forced Field into his own area before the Brazilian winger dropped his shoulder to the left which was a great piece of skill and beat Daniel Grimshaw with a quality low finish. The goal was absolutely brilliant and provided a glimpse of what Allan can do.
Norwich City would play themselves into trouble trying to play out from the back in the 54th minute. Daniel Grimshaw played a poor ball to his teammate on the edge of his own area who attempted to play a ball out to the right-back. Rayan Ait-Nouri nicked in to seize possession in a dangerous position. Initially, Ait-Nouri slipped and it seemed that the chance was gone. However, Rayan Ait-Nouri regained his feet and played the ball back to Floyd Samba. Samba curled a low effort across Daniel Grimshaw from the left to bag himself a brace in a dream debut for the young attacking midfielder.
For Norwich City, substitute Anthony Musaba fired a volley inches wide in the 63rd minute. The visitors had a corner from the right that was cleared to the edge of the penalty area by the Manchester City defence. Musaba took a touch before hitting a sweet left-footed volley on goal which drifted just wide with Gerónimo Rulli at full stretch to try and make a save. Musaba's effort went inches wide and would have been a spectacular goal if it had gone in.
Ryan McAidoo almost got himself on the scoresheet in the 69th minute. Floyd Samba received possession up front and he played a neat ball to Ryan McAidoo in space on the right. McAidoo got a right-footed shot in on goal that Norwich City keeper Daniel Grimshaw got down well to save to his right.
Norwich City would have the ball in the back of the net in the 75th minute. Anthony Musaba slipped Mo Toure in behind the City defence and the Australian striker beat the oncoming Gerónimo Rulli with a composed low finish. However, Toure had stayed offside and the goal was ruled out. The organisation between Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov was good to see to trap the Australian striker offside.
Manchester City would make it 5-0 in the 90th minute. Nico O'Reilly was played into space on the left behind the Norwich City defence. O'Reilly squared the ball across where Rico Lewis let the ball run with a clever dummy before Ryan McAidoo beat Daniel Grimshaw with a quality finish on the right to cap off a fantastic night for Enzo Maresca's side and the Manchester City academy.
McAidoo's goal would be the final moment of the match as Manchester City booked themselves a fourth-round tie against Brighton at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City began their defence of the Carabao Cup with an emphatic 5-0 win. Enzo Maresca's side were rarely troubled on the night and it took them 20 minutes to get going but once they did, they swept Norwich City aside.
Floyd Samba was the star of the show as he bagged a brace in his Manchester City first-team debut. Allan showed glimpses of what he'll add to Enzo Maresca's side as he grabbed a goal and an assist in his City debut. More impressively, every City player on the pitch showed something which illustrated the options at Enzo Maresca's disposal this season.
