Norwich lost their first game in ten games as Preston produced one of the high-scoring football scores of the weekend in the Championship. After falling behind early on to a well-taken goal from Josh Sargent, the visitors, who had only scored four goals all season prior to this game, nearly doubled their total in the final 90 minutes. Midway through the first half, Emil Riis equalized with a strong header before giving his team the lead early in the second half following a quick burst. On 76 minutes, Norwich’s substitute Gabriel Sara tied the score with a similarly skillful goal, but Tim Krul was fooled by the Lilywhites shortly after as substitute Troy Parrott’s cross took a significant deflection off Liam Gibbs.
Preston gave up just two minutes after going undefeated in their first five away Championship games. A break down the left side of the field should have been stopped, but Sargent’s strike past Freddie Woodman with a strong low effort from just outside the box after cutting inside. For the high-flyers, who controlled the early going and had a good chance of extending their lead, it was the perfect start.
After 76 minutes, Norwich ultimately equalized the score after persevering. Pukki, who is better known for his goals, contributed a great assist this time around by moving to the byline and cutting the ball back for Sara, who scored his first goal since moving from Brazil in the summer. But Smith’s soldiers were only briefly back on equal footing before their luck ran out. Krul was completely caught off guard when Krul mishandled the ball into his net at his near post after Krul’s replacement, Parrott, rocketed it in from the right with a strong deflection off Gibbs. The hosts had a goal disallowed late on.
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