Yasir Asprilla (right) claims the winning goal against Norwich City after a brilliant piece of skill by the Watford forward
Yaser Asprilla's delightful strike completed a brilliant Watford fightback from two goals down against Norwich City.
The Colombia international showed quick feet to dance the ball around Canaries goalkeeper George Long and finish to win it for the Hornets in the second half.
Norwich seemed to be on course for a third consecutive victory as a header from Danny Batth and a stunning strike by South Korea forward Hwang Ui-jo put them two goals up after only 12 minutes.
Watford are made of sterner stuff under manager Valerien Ismael, however, and they fought back to parity after Ismael Kone's fierce drive and a Mileta Rajovic header changed the game inside three minutes.
Norwich appeared to be turning their season around after wins over Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers but they remain unconvincing, despite hitting the Hornets with a quick double.
Watford only had themselves to blame in the third minute as Gabriel Sara swung a corner kick to the far post and Batth's only competition was team-mate Hwang as he firmly headed home.
Vicarage Road was again stunned into silence after more slack work, this time from Ryan Porteous, who gifted Sara the ball on halfway.
He freed Hwang, who sent a dipping shot in an arc over the head of rooted goalkeeper Ben Hamer, standing in for the suspended Daniel Bachmann.
Hwang was forced off with an injury after 17 minutes and replaced by Ashley Barnes, but Kone fired Watford back into the reckoning, out of the blue on the half-hour mark, the ball arrowing into the bottom corner before Long could react.
The Norwich lead was rubbed out entirely three minutes later as Jamal Lewis stood up a cross to the far post and Rajovic tucked away his seventh league goal of the season.
Both sides were shooting on sight, as Norwich's Adam Idah forced Hamer to parry, and at the other end Long had to be sharp to turn Asprilla's rising drive over the bar and was then grateful to see Edo Kayembe's fierce effort narrowly clear the bar.
That was part of a strong finish to the half by a resurgent Watford, and they kept up the pressure after the break, continuing to pepper the Norwich goal.
Kone struck the underside of the bar, and Kayembe forced Long into a full-length save, but the willingness to have a bash from range finally paid off in the 77th minute.
Defender Wesley Hoedt let fly from 25 yards to force the parry from Long which gave Asprilla the chance to show his twinkling footwork and take the three points.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsWatford
Formation 4-3-3
26Hamer45Andrews5Porteous4Hoedt6Lewis39Kayembe8Livermore11Koné18Asprilla9Rajovic12Sema
- 26Hamer45Andrews5Porteous4Hoedt6Lewis39Kayembe8LivermoreBooked at 18minsSubstituted forPollockat 90+4'minutes11Koné18AsprillaSubstituted forMartinsat 83'minutes9RajovicSubstituted forBayoat 83'minutes12SemaSubstituted forSierraltaat 90+3'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Sierralta7Ince10Louza14Healey15Pollock19Bayo24Dele-Bashiru37Martins40Roberts
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
12Long3Stacey24Duffy21Batth30Giannoulis23McLean17Gomes Sara16Fassnacht31Hwang Ui-jo25Hernández11Idah
- 12Long3StaceyBooked at 35minsSubstituted forFisherat 68'minutes24DuffyBooked at 64mins21BatthSubstituted forNúñezat 84'minutes30GiannoulisBooked at 90mins23McLean17Gomes Sara16FassnachtSubstituted forSainzat 83'minutesBooked at 90mins31Hwang Ui-joSubstituted forBarnesat 17'minutes25Hernández11IdahSubstituted forGibbsat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Sainz8Gibbs10Barnes15McCallum26Núñez35Fisher39Reyes42Springett50Warner
Referee:Simon HooperAttendance:16,714Match StatsHome TeamWatfordAway TeamNorwichPossessionHome66%Away34%ShotsHome21Away12Shots on TargetHome9Away5CornersHome7Away5FoulsHome14Away12Live Text Post update
Match ends, Watford 3, Norwich City 2.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Watford 3, Norwich City 2.
90'+6'Post update
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Kenny McLean.
90'+5'Booking
Borja Sainz (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card.
90'+4'Booking
Dimitris Giannoulis (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card.
90'+4'Post update
Vakoun Bayo (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Dimitris Giannoulis (Norwich City).
90'+4'Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Mattie Pollock replaces Jake Livermore.
90'+3'Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Francisco Sierralta replaces Ken Sema.
90'+3'Post update
Ryan Andrews (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Borja Sainz (Norwich City).
90'+2'Post update
Attempt missed. Dimitris Giannoulis (Norwich City) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
90'+2'Post update
Attempt blocked. Shane Duffy (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kellen Fisher with a cross.
88'Post update
Attempt missed. Onel Hernández (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Kellen Fisher.
87'Post update
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Ben Hamer.
87'Post update
Attempt saved. Borja Sainz (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
87'Post update
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Edo Kayembe.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Marcelino Núñez replaces Danny Batth.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Borja Sainz replaces Christian Fassnacht.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Matheus Martins replaces Yáser Asprilla.
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Source: bbc.com