Teemu Pukki scored a brace but missed a penalty as Norwich produced one of the close football results of the weekend in the Championship. After Pukki’s brace in the first half, goalkeeper Adam Davies produced a routine save to preserve a draw for the Blades. Ben Osborn and Ollie McBurnie also scored for the team. John Fleck, Rhian Brewster, Billy Sharp, and James McAtee were brought in for the 1-0 loss at Coventry on Wednesday night by Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom. Isaac Hayden, Todd Cantwell, Marcelino Nunez, and Dimitris Giannoulis were all added to the starting XI by Norwich’s Dean Smith, who also made four changes to his team following the defeat at home to Luton.
The Canaries got off to a quick start, taking the lead after only three minutes. Pukki stopped Davies, who was filling in for the suspended Wes Foderingham, as he attempted to clear the ball upfield, and his interception slammed into the goal. In the 16th minute, the visitors increased their advantage, and Pukki found himself on the scoresheet once more as a result of some shoddy Blades defending. To avoid the Blades from cutting the deficit just before halftime, Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn had to make two deft stops, the first from Oliver Norwood at his near post and the second from a deflected Osborn shot.
The home team’s pressure finally paid off in the 62nd minute. They had optimism when Sharp drilled the ball to the back post and Osborn made a good finish. After 71 minutes, Sheffield United equalized when defender John Egan sent the ball across the goal and replacement McBurnie slid in to score at the back post. Liam Gibbs, a replacement for Norwich, was hauled down in the box in the 86th minute, and the official awarded a penalty. Pukki had the opportunity to make it a hat-trick with the penalty, but Davies made a good judgment call and made a low left-handed stop.
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