Teenager Samba Strikes Twice on Debut as Man City Thrash Norwich in League Cup

Manchester City's French midfielder #75 Floyd Samba (R) celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal with Manchester City's English midfielder #56 Ryan McAidoo during the English League Cup third round football match between Manchester City and Norwich City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northwest England on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Manchester City's French midfielder #75 Floyd Samba (R) celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal with Manchester City's English midfielder #56 Ryan McAidoo during the English League Cup third round football match between Manchester City and Norwich City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northwest England on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
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Teenager Samba Strikes Twice on Debut as Man City Thrash Norwich in League Cup

Manchester City's French midfielder #75 Floyd Samba (R) celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal with Manchester City's English midfielder #56 Ryan McAidoo during the English League Cup third round football match between Manchester City and Norwich City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northwest England on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Manchester City's French midfielder #75 Floyd Samba (R) celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal with Manchester City's English midfielder #56 Ryan McAidoo during the English League Cup third round football match between Manchester City and Norwich City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northwest England on September 17, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Floyd Samba wanted to give a good account of himself on his Manchester City senior debut but scoring twice and being named man of the match in Thursday's 5-0 League Cup win over Norwich City was more than the 17-year-old could have hoped for.

City manager Enzo Maresca promoted the English midfielder to the first team after he excelled in the ⁠under-18 setup last ⁠season, and played him in an unfamiliar number nine role for the third-round match at the Etihad Stadium.

But Samba seized the opportunity, scoring the game's first goal with a precise ⁠header in the 28th minute before bending a shot into the corner from 20 yards early in the second half, Reuters reported.

"To get a debut like that is mind blowing. I couldn't believe it myself, but that is just the beginning, I have got a big career ahead of me," he told the BBC, ⁠adding ⁠that the established first-team players had given him some advice.

"I spoke to all of them, they have all been brilliant ... giving me advice like, play your game, be you. Those words have given me confidence and helped me score those two goals today."

Defending champions City will host Brighton & Hove Albion in the fourth round next month.



Former Australia Captain Ryan Absent from Socceroos Squad for Brazil Friendlies

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Australia v Egypt - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 3, 2026 Australia coach Tony Popovic IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Australia v Egypt - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 3, 2026 Australia coach Tony Popovic IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker/File Photo
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Former Australia Captain Ryan Absent from Socceroos Squad for Brazil Friendlies

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Australia v Egypt - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 3, 2026 Australia coach Tony Popovic IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Australia v Egypt - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 3, 2026 Australia coach Tony Popovic IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker/File Photo

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has omitted 105-cap former captain Mathew Ryan from his squad for friendlies against Brazil in Townsville and Brisbane later this month, Australia's last home matches before the Asian Cup early next year.

Ryan, 34, went to this year's World Cup as skipper and presumed starting goalkeeper but was dropped for Patrick Beach and brought on only as a substitute for the penalty shootout as Australia lost to Egypt in ⁠the Round of ⁠32.

The 26-man squad includes Beach and 15 other players who were involved in the World Cup campaign, as well as seven uncapped players. Jordan Bos, Cristian Volpato and Cameron Burgess were unavailable because of injury.

Midfielders Riley ⁠McGree and Patrick Yazbek were recalled after missing the World Cup because of injury.

Australia play five-times world champions Brazil in Townsville on September 25 and again in Brisbane four days later. They also play away friendlies against Qatar and Jordan before the January 7 to February 5 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

"We have picked a squad with an eye on the AFC Asian ⁠Cup ⁠2027 and an eye on the future, and it's a great opportunity for us to continue growing as a team," Reuters quoted Popovic as saying.

Squad: Patrick Beach, Kealey Adamson, Paul Izzo, Aziz Behich, Kasey Bos, Jacob Chapman, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Lucas Herrington, Dylan Leonard, Harry Souttar, Yaya Dukuly, Jackson Irvine, Jacob Italiano, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O'Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler, Alexander Robertson, Patrick Yazbek, Marcus Younis, Eli Adams, Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, Tete Yengi.


King Khalid Racecourse Hosts SAR2.8 Million Weekend Horse Races in Taif

The program includes 11 races each evening - SPA
The program includes 11 races each evening - SPA
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King Khalid Racecourse Hosts SAR2.8 Million Weekend Horse Races in Taif

The program includes 11 races each evening - SPA
The program includes 11 races each evening - SPA

Competitions for the ninth week of the 2026 Taif horse racing season will kick off Friday at King Khalid Racecourse, featuring 22 races across Friday and Saturday with total prize money amounting to SAR2.8 million.

The program includes 11 races each evening. Friday's card is headlined by three 1,200-meter sprint championship cups, each offering a purse of SAR250,000, according to SPA.

Saturday's racing features the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia's 1,400-meter races for fillies and colts sold at the 2025 auction, with a purse of SAR450,000 allocated for each race.


Bournemouth Begins European Campaign Against Real Sociedad, Man City Meets Norwich in League Cup

Bournemouth Begins European Campaign Against Real Sociedad, Man City Meets Norwich in League Cup
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Bournemouth Begins European Campaign Against Real Sociedad, Man City Meets Norwich in League Cup

Bournemouth Begins European Campaign Against Real Sociedad, Man City Meets Norwich in League Cup

Bournemouth kicks off its first European campaign at Spanish side Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday.

Bournemouth enjoyed a record season to finish sixth in the Premier League and Marco Rose’s side hopes its opening European game in San Sebastian is a chance to put behind a slow and winless start to this campaign.

“We need to stay humble and concentrate on each game,” Bournemouth captain Adam Smith said, according to The Associated Press. “But definitely our aim is to try to get as far as possible.”

Real Sociedad returns to Europe after a one-year absence. It qualified for the competition by claiming the Spanish Cup for the fourth time.

Another English club, Crystal Palace, opens its European campaign against Polish champion Lech Poznań after winning the third-tier Conference League last season.

In other games, Italian giant Juventus faces Dutch side Nijmegen, Besiktas hosts Marseille and Celtic plays Ferencváros in Glasgow.

The opening round of matches is split into two days.

On Wednesday, Benfica upset AC Milan 2-0 at San Siro, Sunderland beat visiting AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in its first European match since 1973 and Lyon won 2-1 at Anderlecht.

Elsewhere, Manchester City faces Championship-side Norwich to complete the third round of the League Cup in England.

In Spain, Real Betis meets Getafe and Malaga plays Villarreal in La Liga.