Norwich City’s Under 23s suffered late heartbreak as they went down 3-2 against a strong Bournemouth side in the Premier League Cup opener.
The young Canaries twice battled back to make it 2-2 with just minutes to go – but £10m striker Benik Afobe completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute to send them home empty-handed. Afobe struck first on 38 minutes when he fired past City keeper Aston Oxborough. But City were level on 72 minutes when Tristan Abrahams scored from close range.
The hosts – who also included Callum Wilson, returning after eight months out with injury – went ahead again just three minutes later when Afobe swept the ball home. But again City hit back, this time levelling it in the 77th minute when Abrahams struck for a second time. But their hard work was undone when Afobe scored the winner with a minute remaining.
City’s Glenn Middleton was in the Scotland U19s side beaten 1-0 by France at Livingston.
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