Norwich staged an impressive comeback to secure a 3-3 draw with Middlesbrough in an exhilarating Championship match at Carrow Road. The Canaries faced a daunting task when the visitors took a two-goal lead into halftime after conceding early. However, after Tommy Conway missed a penalty that could have completed his hat-trick midway through the second half, Norwich found new energy, with Borja Sainz scoring his second to narrow the gap almost immediately.

The Canaries then leveled the score in the 79th minute when Kellen Fisher’s cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Seny Dieng at the near post. Norwich had started brightly, taking an early lead in the eighth minute through Sainz’s 10th goal of the season. The Spanish forward initiated a move down the left flank and finished it with a superb strike into the top corner from outside the box.

However, Middlesbrough turned the tide, taking a 3-1 lead into halftime. Conway pulled one back for Norwich within three minutes of the restart, following an excellent cross from Rav van den Berg. Despite chances at both ends, Middlesbrough scored twice late in the first half to seemingly take control of the match.

Conway scored his second in the 40th minute after a break from a Norwich corner, with Ben Doak finding Anfernee Dijksteel, who set up Conway. In stoppage time, Long’s save from Hayden Hackney’s shot allowed Doak to cross back in for Finn Azaz to score from close range. After a slow start to the second half, Middlesbrough missed a golden opportunity to seal the game with a penalty, which Conway failed to convert.

Norwich then rallied, with Sainz scoring again to bring them back into the match. The equalizer came in the 80th minute when Dieng’s mistake allowed Fisher’s cross to find the net. Norwich were reduced to 10 men in the 86th minute when captain Kenny McLean was sent off for a high tackle on Hackney, but they managed to hold on for a hard-fought draw.

Source link:   https://www.theguardian.com