Boro returned home to the Riverside after three away games in six days and their return was nothing short of entertaining.
With a finally fully fit squad, Boro put out a strong starting XI, with Conway getting his first home start of the season after coming back from injury and Brittain getting to be captain for the second time this season.
As the match started, the Teessiders had a chance to take the lead after 30 seconds, with Berhalter narrowly missing the final touch needed to put the ball into the back of the net.
However, a missed placed pass from Morris to Jones, gave Norwich’s Touré the perfect chance to give his team the lead and made it 0-1 within 50 seconds.
Boro reacted to this with intensity, with the fans getting behind their club and their singing roared around the Riverside.
Berhalter got his first Boro goal in the 4th minute with an assist from Conway to get the equaliser.
Just three minutes after their equaliser, Conway got his second assist of the match as Cozier-Duberry scored his first Boro goal to put them in front.
Norwich had the chance to equalise within the first ten minutes; however, Vitek denied their chance, to maintain Boro’s lead.
Boro were continuously winning possession and were in search of more goals, with Conway, Cozier-Duberry and Mcgree just narrowly missing their chances.
However, in the 36th minute the Teessiders were able to extend their lead as Berhalter got his second goal of the match after a shot from Brittain got deflected towards him.
Just before half-time, Berhalter nearly turned his brace into a hattrick as his shot narrowly missed the goal as it bounced wide.
The whistle blew to signal the end of a chaotic first half, leaving the score at 3-1, however the match was far from over.
A half-time substitution was made by Boro as Phillips came on for Jones.
The second half began, and Norwich made their first substitution of the afternoon, bringing Wright on for Slimane.
The start to the second half was a lot calmer compared to the start of the first half as Boro took early control.
In the 53rd minute Mcgree got the first yellow card of the afternoon.
Just before the 60th minute, Borges had the chance to extend Boro’s lead and get himself on the scoresheet, however his shot went just the wrong side of the post.
Norwich made more substitutions in the 62nd minute, bringing Stacey on for Fisher and Makama on for their goal-scorer, Touré.
Boro then made substitutions in the 63rd minute, bringing on Peart-Harris on for Conway and Joseph on for Mcgree.
As the game restarted after the substitutions, Lankshear had an attempt from the halfway line, however Norwich goalkeeper, Kovacevic managed to make it back to his goal and keep it out.
Norwich continued to fight to keep themselves in the game and it paid off for them as Makama got them their second goal in the 70th minute, meaning just one goal now separated the two sides.
Boro brought on Arfsten for Cozier-Duberry in the 73rd minute and Norwich brought on Maghoma for Brooks in the 74th minute.
Just one minute after coming on for Norwich, Maghoma got an assist as Wright managed to get the equaliser bringing the score to 3-3 with only 15 minutes of normal time left.
As the 15 minutes ticked down on the clock, it was looking unlikely that one of the teams would go away with the three points.
In the 89th minute Phillips got the second yellow card of the afternoon.
A final substitution for Norwich in the 90th minute saw Schwatau come on for Musaba.
The final yellow card of the afternoon went to Norwich’s Stacey in the 90th minute.
Three minutes of added time was announced by the fourth official and both teams kept fighting for the winning goal.
However, at 90+1 it was Boro that managed to get the ball in the back of the net with a late winner from Phillips.
The Riverside erupted with celebrations from the fans and players as the ball hit the net.
Boro made one final substitution as they brought on Ayling for Lankshear to go to a back five to defend their lead for the remaining few minutes.
Norwich had one final attempt at 90+3 with a header to get a point from the game; however it went over the bar, which solidified the win for Boro as the final whistle blew just two minutes later.
The Boro players did a lap of the pitch, clapping the fans for the incredible support throughout the match.
Victory fist pumps were done by goal scorers Berhalter, Cozier-Duberry and Phillips; “USA” was chanted by the fans for Berhalter’s superb efforts throughout the match and his brace.
Final victory fist pumps were done by manager Hellberg, followed by the rhythmic clapping and “Boro” chant.
The Teessiders are back at home Tuesday 15th September to face Millwall and hopefully go top of the Championship.
