Football Aug 31, 2026

Millwall 3-0 Norwich City: Tairyk Arconte scores twice as Lions ease to victory

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Millwall 3-0 Norwich City: Tairyk Arconte scores twice as Lions ease to victory

Tairyk Arconte scored his first two goals for Millwall as they breezed past 10-man Norwich 3-0 to make it two wins from two in the Sky Bet Championship this season.

Despite missing some key personnel at the beginning of the campaign, it has been an excellent start for the Lions who are keen to show their brush with promotion last season was no fluke.

Having been tipped to challenge for the play-offs this year, the Canaries have lost both of their opening games and were not at the races at The Den, with a red card for defender Jose Cordoba summing up their afternoon.

Millwall were almost ahead inside six minutes when Camiel Neghli played a lovely ball through for Josh Coburn whose shot crashed against the near post.

Norwich should have taken the lead themselves shortly after when Anis Ben Slimane put the ball across the six-yard box only for Oscar Schwartau to somehow miskick wide from close range.

Canaries goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic then had to make a sharp save from a cleanly-struck volley by Neghli after Kyrell Lisbie's corner had been headed up his way.

Millwall were rewarded for their lively start in the 18th minute when Mark Sykes' ball across found Coburn, whose shot was pushed out by Kovacevic for Guadeloupe international Arconte to tap in the rebound on his home debut.

The hosts thought they had scored a second after 26 minutes when Jake Cooper's header from Jenson Metcalfe's free kick found the top corner, but the linesman's offside flag cut short their celebrations.

Andre Brooks then wasted a good chance to equalise for Norwich when he slashed wide before Cordoba prevented the Lions from doubling their lead by clearing Lisbie's scrambled effort off the line.

Millwall deservedly went 2-0 ahead after 58 minutes when Zak Sturge's ball into the box was headed back by Cooper for Arconte to steer a volley into the bottom corner for his second.

Papa Amadou Diallo - one of three subs brought on by Norwich after an hour - nearly pulled one back when his low effort drew a good save from Millwall goalkeeper Lukas Jensen.

But the Canaries' afternoon went from bad to worse in the 64th minute when Cordoba was sent off for a second yellow card after bundling over Arconte as he charged towards the visitors' area.

Anthony Musaba was brought on for his Norwich debut and threatened to force an exciting finish when he shot wide after being allowed to advance towards the area without much resistance.

But victory was well and truly sealed with six minutes remaining when a slick counter attack involving Daniel Kelly and Neghli ended with Luke Cundle sliding in the Lions' third.

Millwall's Alex Neil:

"I thought it was a complete performance from us - it was probably the most complete performance we've had in the nearly 20 months I've been here.

"The reason I'm saying that is for a couple of things; doing it with four of the new lads that we've recruited in the summer and to do it against a good Norwich team who are well-coached and have good players.

"To do it in the manner in which we did it, I think we were the best team from minute one to the last minute.

"I thought there should have been more (goals) in the first half - 3-0 would have probably been a fair reflection - and then to turn it up again in the second half, when that 1-0 scoreline is always fraught with danger.

"I thought we had the balance between playing, and they couldn't get the ball back, and us pressing when they didn't have the ball."

Norwich's Philippe Clement:

"In the first half we were bullied. We didn't win duels, second balls, also when they pressed us, we were not brave enough on the ball, so there was not much (positive) in our first half.

"It could have been more than 1-0 (at half-time), we need to be honest about that.

"I expected a reaction, we talked about a reaction and in the second half it was there. We were braver on the ball, we created things again and you find you can get back in the game.

"Then you get the second goal, you get the red card and that makes things more complicated for us.

"In the end, we lost the game because Millwall deserved to win, but I'm disappointed that we didn't show our best face and what we should do.

"Maybe there's been too much positivity around the team before this season and around their qualities."

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