Tairyk Arconte scored a brace on his home debut as Millwall beat Norwich City 3-0 at The Den. The Lions opened the scoring when Arconte tucked in a loose ball after a cross by Josh Coburn, and he added a second from a Metcalfe free-kick in the second half.
Dominant first half
From the first minute Millwall pressed hard, with a quick one-two between Camiel Neghli and Casper De Norre that set up Coburn’s post-hit attempt. The Canaries were quick to respond, but a long-range effort from Lukas Jensen was cleared by De Norre. Norwich’s early advantage came when Andre Brooks beat Zak Sturge and cut in from the byline, only for Oscar Schwartau to miss the tap-in.
Millwall’s threat grew as they exploited the space behind Norwich’s back four with Kyrell Lisbie and Arconte. A cross from Mark Sykes found Coburn, who forced a save from Vladan Kovacevic before Arconte seized the rebound. The Lions’ dominance was evident in the build-up, with Neghli and Kenny McLean curling free-kicks that were saved or blocked.
Second half surge
The second half began evenly, but Millwall’s pace began to bite. Lisbie’s header was blocked, and a set-piece from Jake Cooper saw Caleb Taylor’s back-heel deflect over the bar. The Lions were on the brink of a double, but a Cordoba foul on Arconte earned him a second yellow card, leaving Norwich with ten men.
Arconte’s second goal came from a Metcalfe free-kick. Cooper nodded down the ball, and Arconte swept it into the far corner, extending the lead to 3-0. Norwich’s best chance of the half came from substitute Papa Amadou Diallo, who curled a shot that was denied by a Jensen save.
Final moments and aftermath
The final 30 minutes were a formality. Millwall preserved their lead, while Norwich struggled to find any rhythm with ten men. Anthony Musaba’s wide effort was the best of the Canaries.
Luke Cundle added a late tap-in from Neghli’s low cross, sealing the result. Millwall finished the match with a 4-4-2 formation, featuring Arconte, Coburn, Metcalfe, and Lisbie, while Norwich fielded a 4-2-3-1 with Cordoba, Fisher, and McLean.
The match, attended by 19,564 fans, was Norwich’s first competitive home fixture since their play-off defeat three months earlier. Despite seven first-team injuries, the Lions were at their best and look poised for a repeat play-off trip. Millwall’s new signing Jordi Osei-Tutu made his debut as a substitute for De Norre in the 86th minute.
The game was officiated by referee Samuel Allison, with the linesman flagging three times in the opening minutes. A tribute to former manager Kenny Jackett was paid before kickoff, adding a poignant moment to the match.
