Aaron Ramsey scored a brace to help Norwich produce one of the most comfortable football scores of the weekend in the Championship. The Canaries were below average for extended stretches, but they remained focused and scored two goals in the second half to build on a goal they scored late in the first half and restart their promotion drive. In a game that could have gone either way, teenage midfielder Aaron Ramsey was the star, scoring twice to put Norwich up 2-0. Substitute Gabriel Sara added a third goal before Nick Powell scored a late consolation goal for the visitors. In a terrible first half, both teams had trouble connecting their passes, and the home crowd grew impatient as the game went without scoring.
But in the 38th minute, Norwich seized the lead on their first clear-cut opportunity of the game, giving the crowd something to cheer about. After breaking through a crowded midfield, Liam Gibbs found Teemu Pukki, who then maneuvered Ben Wilmot in different directions before unleashing a powerful shot that goalkeeper Joe Bursik did well to parry. Unfortunately for the visitors, though, Ramsey was given possession of the ball, and the on-loan Aston Villa midfielder slid his effort into the empty net to calm the crowd at Carrow Road. It was an unexpected goal for the struggling home team, though Stoke couldn’t really gripe after scarcely mustering a shot of their own in a lackluster first half.
There were then openings for Norwich to take advantage of as Stoke forced more players forward. Bursik made two strong stops to stop Todd Cantwell and Sara before the former made it 3-0 after 77 minutes. Bursik was able to block Marcelino Nunez’s effort after a brilliant Cantwell pass had brought the Chilean in, but fellow replacement Sara was there to snag the rebound. Powell scored with ease when the ball dropped to him following a late break, and Angus Gunn made a few nice reactions saves late on but was helpless to stop Stoke from getting a goal back.
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