MATRADE Loftus Road
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Derby County claimed a late smash-and-grab at the MATRADE Loftus Road as a second-half comeback secured a 3-2 win on Saturday afternoon.
Harvey Vale gave Rangers the lead after 13 minutes, but the Rams levelled proceedings when Oscar Fraulo netted his first goal for the club 10 minutes later. Richard Kone got the hosts back ahead 11 minutes into the second half.
But the Rams fought back once again, and Sondre Langås scored his third goal of the season to make it 2-2 in the 76th minute. The fight continued as Jaydon Banel struck with just two minutes of regulation time on the clock to claim the win.
Jacob Widell Zetterström made an excellent close-range save as the hosts had the first opportunity of the game with a double chance after four minutes.
Kone shot from yards out, and the Swedish shot-stopper got down low and palmed the ball away.
The follow-up was then thrashed onto the near post from an angle by Vale.
Paul Smyth kept up the early pressure from the hosts when the ball fell kindly on the edge of the penalty box for the attacker to hit, but Zetterström got low and behind the effort.
Vale got the goal to get QPR in front when he received a square pass and cut inside to strike a left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
Sam Szmodics appeared most lively at the top of the park for Derby, with half-chances just going out of reach.
An excellent forward pass from Oscar Fraulo split the Rangers' defence open in the 20th minute as Szmodics charged through, but a heavy touch took the opportunity away from him.
Four minutes later, Derby restored parity when a Szmodics corner kick was headed out to Max Johnston – he attempted a volley but misfired, and the ball went into the path of Fraulo for a first-time shot that ripped into the back of the net.
Zetterström was called into action from long range when he punched away a right-footed Smyth effort from 20 yards.
Rangers had the ball in the goal from a corner in added time of the first period, but a foul inside the box denied them a lead.
An early chance came for Johnston in the 46th minute, when a slide tackle from Fraulo found the full-back in space to shoot. His effort was blocked wide, though, as Ronnie Edwards recovered in defence.
Sondre Langås kept the score level when the hosts quickly broke down the left two minutes later. He made a vital block as he went to ground to clear Daniel Bennie’s strike from inside the box.
QPR restored their advantage when tenacity from Kone saw him take a high ball out of the air and strike low into the bottom corner through a crowded penalty area.
They looked to extend the lead a minute later when Smyth and Bennie saw Zetterström in action with a double chance after Kone pounced to win the ball high up the field.
Three changes from John Eustace in the 62nd minute looked to
see Derby back into the game, with Jaydon Banel, Craig Forsyth and David Ozoh
coming on in place of Dion Sanderson, Johnston and Fraulo.
Ozoh looked to make an impact when he struck just wide after the ball bounced to him on the edge of the penalty box in the 68th minute.
Ben Brereton Díaz unleashed Banel down the left flank minutes later, as he ran against Jonathan Varane to win a corner.
The resulting set piece saw Carlton Morris win a free-kick, which saw Langås bullet in a diving header to make it 2-2.
Spurred on by the equaliser, Morris then had a shot blocked in the next attack before a searching cross by Ward whisked past the head of a leaping Salvesen, who couldn’t make the contact to send it goalward.
A superb strike from Banel gave Derby their reward as the Rams
took the lead for the first time in the game after a ripping strike from
the left flank beat goalkeeper Paul Nardi to make it 3-2.
Queens Park Rangers: Nardi (GK), Clarke-Salter, Smyth (Saito 79), Norrington-Davies, Vale, Morgan (Burrell 62), Kone (Chair 68), Bennie (Madsen 62), Mbengue, Edwards (C), Varane.
Unused Substitute: Hamer (GK), Adamson, Kolli, Esquerdinha, Alemayehu.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Clarke, Langås, Morris, Szmodics (Batth 90+1), Johnston (Banel 62), Ward, Brereton Díaz, Travis (C) (Salvesen 75), Sanderson (Forsyth 62), Fraulo (Ozoh 62).
Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Eames, I Gordon, Allen.
Derby will play the final match of their 46 2025/26 Sky Bet Championship fixtures, closing out the season against Sheffield United at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday 2nd May (12.30pm kick-off).
Tickets for the meeting with the Blades are ON SALE NOW.
For details, click here.
