WHAT HAPPENED
We reached the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup in dramatic fashion, defeating Norwich City on penalties following a 4-4 draw after extra-time.
Although the visitors took an early lead at London Colney through Aaron Ekumah, we soon hit back thanks to Flo Balogun, as the striker met Harry Clarke’s ball to head in.
On the hour mark Bukayo Sala brilliantly set up Trae Coyle to put us in front, dummying Vontae Daley-Campbell’s pass to speed past his man and square to the onrushing Coyle.
Having gone behind, Norwich began to dominate and made their pressure tell, equalising through Alan Fleming late on to send us to extra-time.
Just moments after the game had resumed, Norwich went in front through Adam Idah, who slipped in behind our defence to thrash the ball home.
Things went from bad to worse for Kwame Ampadu’s side when Anthony Spyrou met Idah’s pass from close range and extended the Canaries’ lead to two, leaving us with a mountain to climb.
But we kicked into gear and pushed onto the front foot, equalising through Jordan McEneff following an indirect free-kick inside the penalty area.
With the full-time whistle edging ever closer Saka took the game by the scuff of the neck, much as he had done at Anfield in the FA Youth Cup, and he curled us level from distance in the dying seconds.
After 120 minutes of football and eight goals, the sides could not be separated and the tie went to penalties.
Bilal Kamal stepped up first for Norwich, promptly finding the bottom corner, while McEneff went first for us, but was denied by Fergal Hale-Brown.
Alfie Payne took the visitors’ second effort, also finding the back of the net, before we got off the mark through Dominic Thompson.
Fleming buried his effort and was followed by Saka, who made no mistake from 12 yards.
Up next, Idah blasted the ball in for the Canaries, while Clarke scored his oh-so crucial spot-kick to keep us in contention.
Jaden Thompson-Brissett was Norwich’s next taker and saw his effort saved acrobatically by Joao Virginia, before Coyle sent Hale-Brown the wrong way.
Virginia once again performed heroics to deny Max Aarons, giving Zak Swanson the chance to win the tie, which he did so coolly.
WHAT IT MEANS
We join Chelsea, Tottenham and Everton in the last four. Details of our opponent in the semi-finals will be announced soon.
WHAT’S NEXT
We travel to Middlesbrough in the FA Youth Cup last 16.
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