Soccer-Teenager Samba strikes twice on debut as Man City thrash Norwich in League Cup


Soccer Football - Carabao Cup - Third Round - Manchester City v Norwich City - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - September 17, 2026 Manchester City's Floyd Samba celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Phil Noble

Sept 18 (Reuters) - Floyd Samba ⁠wanted to give a good account of himself ⁠on his Manchester City senior debut but scoring ‌twice and being named man of the match in Thursday's 5-0 League Cup win over Norwich City was more than the 17-year-old ​could have hoped for.

City manager Enzo ⁠Maresca promoted the English ⁠midfielder to the first team after he excelled in the ⁠under-18 ‌setup last season, and played him in an unfamiliar number nine role for the third-round ⁠match at the Etihad Stadium.

But Samba seized the ​opportunity, scoring ‌the game's first goal with a precise header in ⁠the 28th ​minute before bending a shot into the corner from 20 yards early in the second half.

"To get a debut ⁠like that is mind blowing. I ​couldn't believe it myself, but that is just the beginning, I have got a big career ahead of me," he ⁠told the BBC, adding that the established first-team players had given him some advice.

"I spoke to all of them , they have all been brilliant ... giving me advice ​like, play your game, be you. ⁠Those words have given me confidence and helped me score ​those two goals today."

Defending champions City ‌will host Brighton & Hove Albion ​in the fourth round next month.

(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Purulia, India; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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