Floyd Samba’s debut double helped Manchester City beat Norwich and advance to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, where they will face Brighton. The 17-year-old scored a superb goal in each half.
Samba has an older brother, Tyrone, who is also in the academy. Their father, Christopher, is a former Blackburn and QPR defender.
With speed, awareness and a poacher’s eye, Samba hopes to make a case for regular first-team game time. Given the elite-level forward competition at City, that will be tough, but this was a fine calling card.
Samba said: “A debut like that is mind blowing. I couldn’t believe it – that’s just the beginning, I’ve got a big career ahead of me.”
For Enzo Maresca, a sixth successive win maintains a 100% record for his nascent project, barring the Community Shield, and shows how the manager is shrugging off doubts about succeeding Pep Guardiola.
Of Samba, Maresca said: “Satisfying for the two goals, the entire performance he was good. He didn’t play [before] as a 9, we tried in the last two or three days. He is very good at finishing so it was a very good game for him. He is not a 9 for sure but he was good.”
City host Sunderland on Sunday. Defeat Régis Le Bris’ side and Maresca will enjoy his three-week international break. You would not bet against them doing so, as City are improving with each outing, as they did against Norwich.
Many opponents are blown away at the Etihad, so for the 14th-placed Championship side to initially tap the ball about was impressive.
Maresca’s formation was fluid and reaped a first dividend when Nico O’Reilly’s cross was fumbled by the visiting goalkeeper, Daniel Grimshaw. The ball dropped to Allan and he delivered it back across for Samba to head home.
City doubled their lead when Samba laid the ball off to Ayyoub Bouaddi, the midfielder hit the ball to Rayan Cherki and, as Grimshaw advanced, he beat the keeper to his right.
Watching from the touchline, Philippe Clement hoped his side were not about to crumble as the first half neared its end. He was relieved when Samba, running in, was thwarted by a Grimshaw dive at his feet.
Yet his men ended the period chasing City, an exhausting task that showed the control the hosts exerted. In a sparsely attended tie, this was precisely what Maresca wished, as it meant his main man, Cherki, could be rested. Ryan McAidoo replaced him for the second half
