Millwall’s search for an away win in the Championship this season continues, after Teemu Pukki scored a 97th minute winner for Norwich, despite the Lions leading 3-2 in the 92nd minute.
Lions manager Neil Harris was disappointed with his team and, speaking the club’s official site, insisted they: ‘[have] to be better’ after conceding two goals in injury time to throw away a lead to high flying Norwich.
Millwall had taken the lead through a thumping header by striker Tom Elliott, after a Jake Cooper header across the box from a deep free kick. This spurred Norwich into action who took control for the rest of the half but could not make the breakthrough.
Canary Fightback
It would finally come just four minutes into the second half when Finnish international Pukki scored with a first-time finish to level the scores. He would then have the chance to put his team in front, after Onel Hernandez’s shot was blocked by the hand of Murray Wallace.
Pukki’s kick was kept out by Ben Amos from the spot, but Norwich were not to be denied. Moritz Leitner scored a low arrowing drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box in the 79th minute.
Only two minutes later and the scores were back level. Ryan Leonard snuck in to the box and poked the ball home after some confusion in the Norwich defence in the 81st minute.
Norwich were their own undoing at this late stage of the match as goalkeeper Tim Krul inexplicably threw the ball to Millwall’s Jed Wallace, who controlled the ball and played a one-two with former Canary Steve Morison, and side footed the ball past the hapless goalkeeper. Millwall were in front for the second time in this match in the 83rd minute.
All Or Nothing
Norwich, with nothing to lose, threw on striker Jordan Rhodes who had the scores level once again two minutes after his introduction. Emiliano Buendia played a precise through ball to Rhodes, who composed himself and slotted past Amos.
This absurd ending to the game was yet to come with one last burst in the 97th minute. Mario Vrancic played a ball behind Millwall’s defence, leaving them all at sea for Pukki to stumble the ball home amidst utter jubilation around Carrow Road.
Lack Of Professionalism
Millwall manager Harris was not very impressed by the way his team saw the game out, still leaving them without an away win this season. Speaking to the official Millwall website, Harris said: “the game had everything… To throw it away like we did, it was a complete lack of professionalism by us as a group… I’m not going to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes. When you’re in a back five, you shouldn’t give away two goals away in injury time.”
