Atdhe Nuhiu hat-trick inspires Wednesday to resounding victory over Norwich

Posted Sunday, May 06, 2018 by PA

Sheffield Wednesday ended the season with a thumping 5-1 victory over Norwich, with Atdhe Nuhiu scoring a hat-trick.

Fernando Forestieri and Frederico Venancio also scored for the hosts while Timm Klose was on target for Norwich late on.

Forestieri put an early chance wide following a good build-up involving Lucas Joao and Nuhiu.

Norwich boss Daniel Farke was forced to make a change in the 11th minute when James Maddison made way after receiving lengthy treatment, with Ivo Pinto coming on in his place.

The first opening for the visitors came when a loose ball fell to Josh Murphy whose shot was deflected wide.

Nuhiu opened the scoring in the 14th minute, climbing high at the far post to meet an Adam Reach cross, heading beyond Angus Gunn.

Forestieri added a second goal on the half-hour mark, nipping in to intercept an under-hit back pass from Christoph Zimmermann and slotting the ball past the exposed Gunn.

Nelson Oliveira put an effort narrowly wide as the visitors looked to respond.

Towards the end of the half, Wednesday skipper Glenn Loovens left the field to applause, bringing the curtain down on his spell at Hillsborough, with Jordan Thorniley taking his place.

Pinto went down injured after the referee blew his whistle for half-time but he was able to continue following the break after receiving treatment.

As the visitors looked to pull a goal back early in the second half, Tom Trybull fired a 20-yard effort straight at keeper Cameron Dawson.

Norwich were playing some neat, passing football at this stage of the match, without posing a real attacking threat.

Venancio put Wednesday further ahead with his first goal for the club after 58 minutes, finding the net with a well-placed volley from Reach’s cross.

Two minutes later, Nuhiu scored his second of the afternoon to make it 4-0, capitalising on a defensive mix-up and tapping into an empty net following Joey Pelupessy’s cross, after Gunn and Zimmermann collided. The Norwich pair were both able to continue after receiving medical attention.

Oliveira had a shot blocked and with the Wednesday defenders unable to clear the danger, Moritz Leitner wasted a good chance, heading wide from Pinto’s cross.

Klose (83) scored a consolation goal for Norwich, beating Dawson with a low shot from inside the area.

Forestieri found a way through late on but he was denied by a brave block from Gunn.

Nuhiu then went close in the 89th minute, powering in a header which forced an excellent save from Gunn.

Nuhiu was not to be denied his hat-trick, however, scoring from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Forestieri was fouled inside the area by Jamal Lewis.