WHEN Brooklyn Genesini was thrown on with just two minutes of stoppage time to play at Carrow Road, nobody could have foreseen what would come next.

With Cherries chasing a goal to force penalties with Championship Norwich City, Scott Parker turned to his youthful bench and introduced fresh legs in wide men Genesini and Dominic Sadi.

That decision is one which will live long in the memory for both the pair of debutants, as well as the near-400 travelling Cherries supporters in Norfolk.

The last throw of the dice worked to perfection as Sadi crossed to the back post, when 20-year-old Genesini arrived to turn the ball home and earn a 2-2 draw.

Parker's men went on to win the Carabao Cup second-round tie 5-3 on penalties, with Ryan Christie stroking home the winning kick.

Bournemouth Echo:

But it was Cherries' latest crop of academy stars who stole the show, with Ben Greenwood and Christian Saydee impressing from the off an Owen Bevan also coming off the bench.

It has been more than two years since we first saw Genesini on a teamsheet for a competitive Cherries fixture, named as an unused substitute by Eddie Howe for an FA Cup contest with Arsenal in February 2020.

Speaking to the Daily Echo at the time, the Yeovil-born ace detailed his route to this point, including a potentially life-threatening injury as a child, as well as his off-field hobby of dancing.

Aged just eight, a steel goal frame fell on Genesini's head in a frightening accident, forcing it onto a concrete floor and putting the youngster in hospital.

“I remember it perfectly now,” he told the Daily Echo.

“When I was younger, I wasn’t the most confident person. I used to play indoor football since I was around eight years old.

“I was grabbing a ball out of the goal and I heard a coach shout ‘Brooklyn, get out the way’ because a metal goal banged on the back of my head and smashed my head to the floor.

“The size of my head on my right side – it was literally about two golf balls, that was described by my mum.

“I went straight to A&E and it really could have went badly from there. Luckily, I recovered from it.

“It was a very scary moment.

“Maybe if that was a little bit worse, then it could have been the end of me.”

Bournemouth Echo:

Since being named on the bench 18 months ago, Genesini has spent time away on loan at Poole Town in non-league, with mixed results.

But the right-back, who started his football journey playing with the Brazil Soccer School as a child, has begun to kick-on under Scott Parker's guidance, regularly training with the first team and heading away with the squad for this year's pre-season training camp in Portugal.

Bournemouth Echo:

Away from the pitch, Genesini used to show off his fancy footwork in another arena.

“I used to dance in a place called Nice n Easy in Boscombe. First of all, it was just like a little side thing to help my football,” said Genesini, who specialised in ballroom and Latin.

“I ended up getting second in the country and things like that, I was a bit gobsmacked.

“That was very intense as well. It helped me in my football technically because it gets you on your toes and stuff.

“Also, it’s very constant. They get at you, get a few shouts at you and it got me ready to be with Bournemouth.

“Going to the under-16s when I first joined, I felt I was ready for it. I knew I could develop at this club.

“I did enjoy it (dancing) for a bit but it just got a bit much really – it was too much with the football.

“I’ve been told by a few people my posture is upright, maybe that’s from the dancing! It’s quite funny really.”