Gary Hooper struck in the 86th minute to earn Norwich City a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in their Championship clash at Carrow Road this afternoon.
The visitors had the first opportunity of the game when Kazenga LuaLua found space inside the area, and he drilled a low effort at goal that forced John Ruddy into a good save.
Norwich hit back with a good chance when Martin Olsson raided down the left and lifted a cross to the back post for Cameron Jerome to attack, but the striker failed to guide his headed effort on target.
Brighton took the lead in the 34th minute when Adrian Colunga surged down the left flank and fired a pinpoint cross to the back post. Bruno managed to coast in at the back post to beat his marker and guide a header past Ruddy.
The home side drew level immediately when Jonny Howson picked out Nathan Redmond out wide and kept moving into the box. Redmond delivered a dangerous cross into the area, and Howson was on hand to head his effort into the net.
In the second half, the Canaries took the lead in spectacular fashion when Howson's corner was cleared into the path of Russell Martin 30 yards from goal, and he let fly with a powerful strike that found the top corner.
Jerome could have all but sealed his side's win when he sneaked in front of Gordon Greer at the front post to head Redmond's cross at goal, but he could only guide his effort over the bar.
David Stockdale kept the visitors in the game minutes later when he denied Bradley Johnson after he capitalised on a mistake in the Brighton backline and fired a low effort at goal.
Those chances would come back to haunt Neil Adams's side as Brighton found an equaliser when LuaLua cut inside onto his right foot, beating the challenge of Howson before firing into the bottom corner.
Brighton took the lead for the second time in the game in the 78th minute when Colunga was brought down in the area by Jos Hooiveld and a penalty was awarded. Colunga took the spot kick himself and buried the ball past Ruddy.
However, the Canaries weren't to be denied a point as Hooper came off the bench to strike in the 86th minute when he controlled the ball inside the box and thumped it into the back of the net.
Simon Sinclair
