Daniel Farke’s side were dominant throughout, creating a hatful of chance in what was their opening game of a week-long training camp in Germany.

Kieran Dowell, arguably the standout performer of the opening 45, had a hand in two of Norwich’s goals. After crashing home the opener he then expertly laid on the second for Adam Idah.

Timm Klose then added a third with an eye-catching volley, as City made the most of the opportunity to get more match minutes in the legs of the travelling squad.

City started the game the brighter. Emi Buendia capitalised on a misplaced pass from a Verl defender before sending a low shot wide from range.

On nine minutes City were once again first to a loose ball, with Onel Hernandez the recipient. The Cuban winger powered into the left channel before firing a low shot marginally wide of the near post.

The home side were then presented with a chance of their own following a mix-up in the City backline. The ball eventually fell to Julian Schwermann, who saw a low effort from point blank range expertly saved by Michael McGovern.

But the breakthrough arrived on 15 minutes after some neat interplay.

Receiving the ball from Bali Mumba, Buendia then slipped a clever pass between two Verl defenders to Dowell, who took one touch before sending an unerring finish into the roof of the net from just inside the area.

And the lead was soon doubled following an assist straight out of the top drawer.

Dowell collected the ball after offensive pressure from Hernandez. The ex-Everton man then flighted a wonderful cross into the area, with Idah striking a first-time volley beyond a stranded Verl goalkeeper.

Idah then came close to doubling his tally, racing through on goal only to be denied by the a save from Till Brinkmann.

Zlatko Janjic struck a post for the hosts, but in truth it was largely one-way traffic.

In the run up to the interval, Dowell superbly slalomed around three Verl markers before releasing Hernandez who fired low and wide.

lads v verl.jpg

Farke made 11 changes at half time, affording players the opportunity for more match minutes.

Przemyslaw Placheta immediately looked a livewire down the left flank. The young Pole scampered away from a Verl defender before seeing a shot punched clear.

Though a third goal did indeed arrive on the hour.

With the ball looping over his shoulder following Placheta’s set piece, Klose swept a full volley from just inside the area into the back of the Verl net.

City had to remain alert at the back, as Tim Krul somehow repelled Patrick Schikowski’s shot from the right channel.

Josh Martin danced infield following a clever short corner and sent a dipping effort wide of the far post, whilst Placheta saw a shot canon off a Verl defender and loop onto the roof of the net.

A fourth goal continued to look likely but ultimately never arrived, as City made it two wins from two for their 2020 pre-season schedule.

Norwich City: McGovern (Krul 46), Mumba (Rupp 46), Zimmermann (Klose 46), Godfrey (Tettey 46), McCallum (Quintilla 46), Skipp (Sorensen 46), McLean (Vrancic 46), Hernandez (Placheta 46), Buendia (Martin 46), Dowell (Cantwell 46), Idah (Pukki 46)

Unused substitutes: Stiepermann, Sinani

Goals: Dowell 15, Idah 23, Klose 58

SC Verl: Brinkmann, Pernot (Choroba 46), Kurt (Mikic 46), Schwermann (Schmik 46), Janjic (Brosowski 46), Hecker (Schikowski 38), Yildrim (Schubert 46), Jurgensen, Lang (Korb 46), Ritzka (Sander 46), Stockner (Zolinski 46)

Unused substitutes: Lange, Saibert, Lotka

Referee: Jorn Schafer

Venue: SPORTCLUB Arena

City put three past SC Verl in pre-season

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