Will Lankshear’s debut strike ensured Middlesbrough made a winning start to the season as they beat Wrexham 1-0 in the Carabao Cup first round.
Lankshear, a £10 million summer signing from Tottenham Hotspur, scored the only goal of the game in the 61st minute as he hooked home an excellent first-time volley after a cushioned header from another debutante, United States midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.
Middlesbrough almost claimed a seventh-minute opener, but while Adilson Malanda prodded Berhalter’s cross goalwards from close range, Danny Ward kept the ball out with a superb point-blank save.
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New signing Danny Imray wasted a decent chance for Wrexham when he failed to make a proper connection from Callum Doyle’s cross, and the visitors went close again six minutes before the break when Sam Smith fired a low shot into the legs of Sol Brynn after he was rolled into space by Nathan Broadhead.
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Lankshear came close with an effort that was curled just over the bar at the start of the second half, but the 21-year-old did not have to wait too much longer for his first goal in a Boro shirt.
Leo Castledine headed Jeremy Sarmiento’s cross into Lankshear’s path, and the striker swivelled neatly before hooking a superb first-time volley into the far corner.
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Boro almost doubled their lead with three minutes remaining, but Morgan Whittaker’s low strike rebounded off the post.
Alongside Berhalter, who arrived from the Vancouver Whitecaps last week, Middlesbrough also handed a debut to fellow U.S. international Max Arfsten.
PA contributed to this report.
