A very poor first-half performance cost Watford as they were eliminated from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Norwich City.
Josh Sargent took advantage after a Ryan Andrews error to open the scoring, before Egil Selvik let a Marcelino Nunez shot through his hands to leave the Hornets two down at the break.
Kwadwo Baah's introduction off the bench livened things up in the second period, and the winger pulled a goal back after dribbling into the box and firing low into the corner.
But Norwich held on to secure what was a deserved win - with Paulo Pezzolano left to ponder where it all went wrong during the opening 45 minutes.
Nestory Irankunda was the first to go close for Watford, producing a stepover and low show that was shovelled behind by Daniel Grimshaw.
On 10 minutes, however, Norwich took the lead.
Andrews miscontrolled after a Selvik clearance and Watford summer transfer target Pape Diallo pounced, squaring to Sargent to score on his fourth straight visit to Vicarage Road.
From there, it was one-way traffic as Watford's performance fell apart.
The Hornets gave the ball away frequently and the visitors took control, initially being denied by a Hector Kyprianou interception as Sargent ran onto a through ball.
They did double their lead on 24 minutes, though, when Nunez's long shot squirmed through Selvik's hands and bounced into the net.
Nunez went close again when Watford gave the ball away on the edge of their own box once more five minutes later, before the lively Diallo drilled into the side netting.
Paulo Pezzolano looked furious and it was not a surprise when Watford were booed off at the break.
The Hornets stepped things up a little in the second half, substitute Imran Louza driving wide and Irankunda continuing to cause mischief, though it was Sargent who went closest again when driving wide from 20 yards.
We exit the cup. pic.twitter.com/bO5k0qVsWq
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) August 12, 2025
As became customary last season, though, Kwadwo Baah's introduction off the bench changed the dynamic.
Just seven minutes after coming on down the left, the winger powered into the box and drilled below Grimshaw to get his side back into the game.
Watford had found a rhythm, Irankunda's 20-yarder not too far away after Ngakia had won a corner.
Another corner led to their next opportunity, Vivaldo Semedo heading a decent Louza delivery over the top.
Pezzolano's side were unable to apply enough pressure to Norwich's goal in the end, though, and lose their second consecutive match at the start of the season.
Watford: Selvik; Andrews (Ngakia, 46), Alleyne, Kyprianou, Bola; Grieves (Keben, 46), Dele-Bashiru (Louza, 46); Ince (Baah, 61), Kayembe, Irankunda, Semedo (Kjerrumgaard, 80)
Unused subs: Baxter, Mullins, Sissoko, Doumbia
Attendance: 9,243
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