Norwich 3-2 Newcastle: Martin Olsson's stoppage-time strike wins it for Canaries

By Simeon Gholam

Sunday 3 April 2016 00:21, UK

Martin Olsson struck a stoppage-time winner for Norwich as they beat Newcastle 3-2 to move four points clear of the relegation zone.

Substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic twice pegged the Canaries back, netting after Timm Klose had opened the scoring before tucking away a penalty with less than five minutes to go after Dieumerci Mbokani had put Norwich back in front.

But, with the game seemingly heading for a draw, Olsson popped up in the box to fire home the winner in the third minute of stoppage time.

The result leaves Newcastle second from bottom, with Rafa Benitez's side now six points behind Norwich in 17th.

Norwich were by far the better side early on and only a combination of wasteful finishing and a couple of fine saves from Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow - making just his second Premier League appearance - kept it level for most of the first half.

Mbokani had the ball in the back of the net after 17 minutes, but it was correctly ruled after he had strayed into an offside position before receiving Jonny Howson's pass.

Darlow, Newcastle's third-choice stopper who was replacing the injured Rob Elliot, then made a couple of fine saves in quick succession just after the half-hour mark to keep out Robbie Brady then Mbokani, but he could do nothing to prevent Norwich's opener.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Brady whipped a fine, inswinging free-kick right onto the head of Klose, who had risen highest in the box to steer the ball home.

Newcastle boss Benitez responded immediately after the break, throwing on Ayoze Perez for Cheick Tiote, but it was the introduction of Mitrovic just after the hour that made the difference for the away side.

The striker offered an immediate threat, and found the equaliser after 71 minutes when his header from Andros Townsend's cross nicked the head of Ryan Bennett and looped over the unfortunate John Ruddy.

Just three minutes later, though, Norwich were back in front through Mbokani. His finishing was lacking in the first half, but the striker showed his clinical edge in cutting inside from the left, charging into the box and thundering a strike into the top corner.

With less than five minutes to go, Mitrovic appeared to nick a point for the away side, firing a penalty past Ruddy after Norwich midfielder Gary O'Neil had handled in the box.

But in the 93rd minute Howson pulled a low ball back into the path of Olsson, and he fired it low and hard into Darlow's bottom corner to send Carrow Road wild.

Paul Merson's Soccer Saturday verdict

It looks like Newcastle will be relegated now. Norwich's goal at the end was massive. Benitez will be wondering why he didn't play Mitrovic from the start, they wouldn't have lost if he had started him - he was absolutely outstanding. After Newcastle pulled the game back to 2-2 they looked like the only team that was going to score.

John Ruddy made an unbelievable save to deny Papiss Cisse and then Olsson drills the ball home at the other end for what could be a priceless victory. Norwich played very well for 70 minutes, they passed the ball around well. I worry for Newcastle now, Rafa organises teams and makes them difficult to beat, I'm not sure if he can send teams out to win football matches.

Player ratings

Norwich: Ruddy (5), Wisdom (5), Bennett (6), Klose (7), Olsson (7), Jarvis (5), Howson (6), O'Neil (4), Brady (7), Naismith (6), Mbokani (7)

Subs: Jerome (n/a), Hoolahan (n/a), Redmond (5)

Newcastle: Darlow (6), Janmaat (5), Mbemba (5), Taylor (5), Anita (5), Tiote (4), Shelvey (5), Townsend (5), Sissoko (6), Wijnaldum (5), Cisse (5)

Subs: Perez (5), Mitrovic (7)

Man of the match: Timm Klose