Hull City 2-1 Norwich City: Oscar Estupinan earns Tigers win over Canaries
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Colombia international Oscar Estupinan (left) joined Hull on a two-year deal in July
Oscar Estupinan's first goals for Hull City set the hosts on their way to a second win in three unbeaten Championship games and left winless Norwich City with just one point from a sorry start to life back in the second tier.
The Colombian finished from close range late in the first half to put the Tigers ahead when a sloppy Max Aarons clearance fell kindly after hitting team-mate Andrew Omobamidele.
And Estupinan put an increasingly confident home side 2-0 up just after the hour, gleefully striking his second goal in English football from a goalmouth melee after an Ozan Tufan corner caused chaos.
Norwich, who dominated possession and had 10 attempts on goal inside the first 25 minutes, struggled to create chances after falling behind until a frantic final 20 minutes which saw Marcelino Nunez crash in a wonderful 30-yard free-kick to make it 2-1 and Aston Villa loanee Aaron Ramsey miss a glorious opportunity to snatch a point.
Ramsey somehow shot over from four yards following an Aarons cross and then had an effort cleared off the line.
But all the late dominance could not prevent Dean Smith's side continuing a miserable run which has seen them win just once in 19 league games - stretching back to last season.
A first Championship win of the season had looked on the cards after an an energetic start against a Hull side, who move second in the table despite being on the back foot for the majority of the opening period.
The visitors were slick in their passing and quick to press, new recruit Nunez and Teemu Pukki both forcing excellent saves from keeper Matt Ingram, and Pukki seeing an attempt deflected just over.
But the Tigers, knocked out the Carabao Cup by League Two side Bradford in midweek, regrouped and sensed a second win in three league games when summer signing Estupinan reacted sharply to pounce on Aarons' mistake and trickle the ball home from their first attempt on target.
Grant Hanley did go close with a header for the Canaries after the interval, but Estupinan's second looked good enough to seal the points.
The visitors, now without a win in six league visits to Hull since a 2-1 victory in April 2007, rediscovered their form from the first half, and could and should have come away with a draw.
Chile midfielder Nunez's sumptuous set-piece brought hope with just over 15 minutes remaining and Ramsey will rue the two chances he failed to convert, meaning Norwich have just one point from nine so far and are bottom of the table on goal difference.
Hull City boss Shota Arveladze:
"I'm not saying this is the best game we've played but, strategically, we did very well. I think it's a great start to the season.
"We have been watching their games and just didn't want to give them time. Maybe we started a bit too early to kill the game [after Nunez scored], but before that we had a really good game.
"In some points they dominated, but not with really clear chances; they only had one clear chance in the second half.
"You have to accept they have a stronger squad. It's a Premier League team. They dominated, definitely, but that's why we played two different systems and it worked."
Norwich City boss Dean Smith:
"It's a game we've dominated and been camped in their half. The last 25 minutes was like attack versus defence.
"We could've won in the first 15 minutes, such was our superiority and the chances we created, but we gave a calamitous goal away and it gave them something to cling to.
"We had a two or three-minute spell in the second half where we failed to do the things we had been doing previously. They ended up getting a shot from the box deflected for a corner and we didn't defend the set-piece well.
"Nunez got us a lifeline with a superb goal that lifted everybody. If Ramsey scored we'd win the game. But I don't want to be a broken record every week. We're playing well enough to win, we're just making silly errors at the moment.
"On another day, we definitely come away with three points. They'll feel they got out of jail a little bit and it's frustrating because there's some really good football there. It's just a couple of mistakes we're getting punished for at the moment."