Matt Crooks scored a winner in stoppage time to help Middlesbrough produce one of the narrow football scores of the weekend in the Championship. After a quick counterattack, Crooks delivered an impactful finish to earn the visitors their third straight victory under newly hired manager Michael Carrick. Josh Sargent’s beautifully-taken seventh-minute goal put Boro behind until well after the hour mark, when Riley McGree’s magnificent volley changed the course of the match. Both teams gave it their best in pursuit of the three points, but Boro ultimately prevailed as Norwich lost ground in their bid for promotion.
Before Norwich took the lead, the game had a frantic beginning with Chuba Akpom scoring for the visitors and Teemu Pukki being stopped by Zack Steffen’s extended left leg. After being set up by Kenny McLean’s clever flick, Sargent blasted low past, Steffen, to score his ninth goal of a particularly productive season. When Steffen acrobatically clawed away Aaron Ramsey’s effort from just outside the area, the Canaries came dangerously close to extending their lead. It was fortunate for Boro that nobody was nearby to knock in the loose ball.
A soaring shot from Sargent that was headed for the top corner was stopped by Steffen two minutes after the restart as the hosts attempted to increase their lead. To put them back in the game, a little magic was required, which McGree delivered in just 64 minutes. It appeared that both teams would score a point, but super sub Crooks had other plans. A quick counterattack down the left side, started by Akpom’s cheeky flick, ended with Isaiah Jones’ low cross. The striker, who had just been substituted for McGree, popped up at the near post to provide an emphatic finish into the roof of the net.
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