Socceroos Abroad: Toure continues red-hot Norwich form with quickfire brace

Mohamed Toure scored a quickfire brace for Norwich City to get his goalscoring season underway in the EFL Championship.

Elsewhere, Patrick Beach was named Player of the Match in ES Troyes' first top-flight win in over three years, while Cristian Volpato scored his first of the Serie A campaign for Sassuolo.

The Headliners

Mo picks up where he left off for Norwich

Mohamed Toure made twelve goal contributions in eleven games for Norwich City in the EFL Championship last season, and looks to be continuing right where he left off, scoring a brace against Burnley in their 4-1 victory on the weekend.

His first goal, within the first two minutes of the game, was a clinical finish from a long ball. The second was a poacher’s finish, tucking it away after Burnley failed to clear from a corner.

The 22-year-old has now scored 11 goals in 14 games in his EFL Championship career, with only five players in the history of the competition reaching double figure goals quicker than him.

The victory was Norwich’s first of the season.

Result: Norwich City 4 – 1 Burnley

ES Troyes riding Ligue 1 wave as Beach named Player of the Match

Patrick Beach continued making an impression in the French top-flight, with four saves earning him a Player of the Match performance in ES Troyes' 2-1 victory over Lorient.

It was a milestone moment for Troyes, their first victory in Ligue 1 for three years, seven months and 27 days.

While the last few months have been a whirlwind rise for the 23-year-old goalkeeper, top-flight European football is the new norm for the youngster, who is considered first choice at his club.

The first two games have given the newly promoted side a fantastic foundation to look forward for the rest of the campaign.

Result: FC Lorient 1 – 2 ESTAC Troyes

Volpato stunner inspires Sassuolo win

Cristian Volpato’s first goal of the Serie A campaign helped lift Sassuolo to a 2-1 victory over Torino. The result was Sassuolo’s first victory of the campaign after falling to Atalanta last week.

It was a stunning first-time left-footed finish from outside the penalty area to give his side the lead and set the tone for the remainder of the match.

The 22-year-old continues to grow, with eight goals and ten assists across all competitions since joining Sassuolo in 2023, and will hope that an uptick in form can coincide with a strong season for I Neroverdi.

Result: Sassuolo 2 – 1 Torino

Other Standouts

Riley McGree played 68 minutes and made three key passes for Middlesbrough in his first start back after injury, in a 3-1 victory over West Brom. Middlesbrough are two wins from three to start their Championship campaign and will be hoping that McGree can continue to grow into the season.

Result: Middlesbrough 3 – 1 West Brom

Paul Okon-Engstler made his starting debut for FC Köln in a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Hoffenheim. The start shows just how highly regarded the 21-year-old is in Germany and he will no doubt continue to grow as the season progresses.

Result: FC Köln 3 – 2 TSG Hoffenheim

Martin Boyle was on the scoresheet for Hibernian, as they defeated Dundee United 2-1 in the Scottish Premiership. The Hibs skipper has three goals in all competitions to start the season.

Result: Dundee 1 – 2 Hibernian

Elsewhere Abroad

Tete Yengi (Machida Zelvia, J1 League) – 81 minutes in 1-1 draw with Mito HollyHock

Jackson Irvine (Cerezo Osaka, J1 League) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss to Vissel Kobe

Nestory Irankunda (Sporting CP, Liga Portugal) – 10 minutes in 4-0 victory over Rio Ave

Lucas Herrington (Hull City, Premier League) – 31 minutes in 1-0 victory over Coventry City

Maty Ryan (Levante, LaLiga) – in goals for 5-2 victory over Real Betis

Alex Robertson (Cardiff City, EFL Championship) – full match in 2-2 draw with Sheffield United, 92% passing accuracy

Joe Gauci (Lincoln City, EFL Championship) – unused substitute in 1-0 victory v Peterborough

Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth, EFL Championship) – not in matchday squad for 2-1 defeat v Bristol City

Harry Souttar (Leicester City, EFL League One) – 7/9 duels won and a big chance created while playing full match in 0-0 draw with MK Dons

Sam Silvera (MK Dons, EFL League One) – 10 minutes in 0-0 draw v Leicester City

Cammy Devlin (Rangers, Scottish Premiership) – full match in 1-0 victory over Aberdeen

Connor Metcalfe (FC St. Pauli, 2. Bundesliga) – 36 minutes in 2-1 defeat against 1. FC Kaiserslautern

Nishan Velupillay (FC Ingolstadt, 3. Liga) – competitive debut and 45 minutes in 2-0 victory v SG Sonnenhof Großaspach

Paul Izzo (Randers, Danish Superliga) – five saves in 2-1 victory against AGF

Ryan Teague (KV Mechelen, Belgian Pro League) – not in matchday squad for 2-2 draw with La Louvière

Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK, Austrian Bundesliga) – 15 minutes in 0-0 draw with Wolfsberg

Nicholas D’Agostino (Viking FK, Eliteserien) – not in matchday squad

Gianni Stensness (Viking FK, Eliteserien) – played full game in dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Aalesunds FK

Deni Juric (Wisla Plock, Ekstraklasa) – 9 minutes in 2-0 defeat v Korona Kielce

Patrick Yazbek (Nashville SC, MLS) – started and played 62 minutes in 4-0 victory against Cincinnati

Max Balard (NAC Breda, Eerste Divisie) – 69 minutes in 2-2 draw with Roda JC

Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata; J2 League) – not in matchday squad for 3-2 victory over Iwaki FC

Ajdin Hrustic (Al Nasr; UAE Pro League) – not in matchday squad in 2-1 victory against Al-Taawon

Unavailable

Kai Trewin (New York City FC, MLS) – Injured

Aiden O’Neill (New York City FC, MLS) – Injured

Kye Rowles (D.C United, MLS) – Injured

Jordy Bos (Feyenoord, Eredivisie) – Injured

Lewis Miller (Blackburn, EFL Championship)  Injured

Cameron Burgess (Swansea City; EFL Championship) – Injured

Midweek Fixtures

Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo, Serie A) – v Frosinone in Coppa Italia, Wednesday 2 September 11pm AEST

Harry Souttar (Leicester City, EFL League One) – v Plymouth, Wednesday 2 September 

Sam Silvera (MK Dons, EFL League One) – v Wigan Athletic Thursday, 3 September 4.45am AEST

Cammy Devlin (Rangers, Scottish Premiership) v Falkirk, Thursday, 3 September 5.00am AEST

Nicholas D’Agostino (Viking FK, Eliteserien) – v Brodd in Norwegian Cup, Thursday 3 September 2.00am AEST

Gianni Stensness (Viking FK, Eliteserien) – v Brodd in Norwegian Cup, Thursday 3 September 2.00am AEST

Tete Yengi (Machida Zelvia, J1 League) – v Kawasaki, Wednesday 2 September 8.00pm AEST