Floyd Samba scored twice on a dream senior debut as City swept aside Norwich City 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium to reach the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
The 17-year-old struck either side of half-time, while Rayan Cherki and fellow debutant Allan were also on target before substitute Ryan McAidoo completed the scoring in the final minute.
Enzo Maresca made 10 changes from the side which beat Manchester United 1-0 on Sunday, with Geronimo Rulli, Allan and Samba all handed their City debuts. Mateo Kovacic captained a side containing a mixture of senior players, summer signings and academy graduates.
Samba steals the show at the Etihad
Norwich, who made nine changes of their own, competed well during the opening stages and kept City out until the 29th minute. The breakthrough came when Allan delivered from the right and Samba directed his header beyond Daniel Grimshaw. It was an assured first senior goal from the teenager, and City had another only three minutes later.
Ayyoub Bouaddi released Cherki, who raced clear and finished past Grimshaw to make it 2-0 and give Maresca’s side firm control before the interval. Cherki was replaced by McAidoo at half-time but City needed only three minutes of the second half to score again. Allan cut in from the left and drove a low shot across Grimshaw and into the far corner, adding a goal to his earlier assist on an impressive debut.
Samba’s second followed in the 54th minute and was the pick of his two. City regained possession high up the pitch and the youngster curled a fine finish beyond Grimshaw from outside the area.
Norwich did threaten during their best spell of the second half. Anthony Musaba went close and Mohamed Toure later had the ball in the net, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. City had already done more than enough, but there was still time for another academy player to get on the scoresheet. Nico O’Reilly supplied the cross from the left in the 90th minute and McAidoo arrived to finish first time for 5-0.
Maresca could hardly have asked for much more from a night on which he rested almost all of the players who started the Manchester derby and still saw City cruise into the last 16. For Samba, though, this was something rather more memorable: a first-team debut, two goals and a standing ovation at the Etihad.
Man City: Rulli; Lewis, Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Ait-Nouri; Bouaddi, Kovacic; Allan (Braithwaite 71), Cherki (McAidoo 45), O’Reilly; Samba.
Subs not used: Donnarumma, Guehi, Nunes, Fernandez, Anderson, Semenyo, Ndiaye.
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