Hoops joy and pain
After Extra-time
QPR win 8-7 on penalties
By STEVE JUDGE at Loftus Road
JORDAN ARCHER experienced the joy and pain of penalties – all in one moment.
The QPR keeper was rushed to hospital after he injured his shoulder as he dived full-length to save the 18th spot-kick of the shootout, from Chiedozie Ogbene.
Archer required treatment on the pitch before being led off to an ambulance with his arm in a sling.
It took the gloss off the Hoops’ celebrations after they fought back from falling behind in extra-time.
Michael Ihiekwe fired Rotherham ahead on 98 minutes, only for Lyndon Dykes (above) to head a 115th-minute leveller.
Hoops boss Mark Warburton said: “I did not think it was a good tie from our point of view. It was scrappy but all credit to the players they found a way to win the game.”
Archer’s tie-winning stop was one of two he made in the shootout as he also dived to keep out Wes Harding’s effort.
Rotherham keeper Joshua Vickers followed that up by denying Andre Dozzell’s effort after producing a number of saves to take the tie into extra-time.
Despite failing to find any attacking fluency, Rangers still created the best chances to win the game in 90 minutes.
George Thomas airballed a 21st-minute tap in, while Andre Gray and Charlie Austin forced Vickers into smart saves.
Ihiekwe fluffed the Millers’ only clear chance of the first half and sub Joshua Kayode had a header cleared off the line by Yoann Barbet in the closing stages of normal time.
Rotherham boss Paul Warne said: “To get a goal in extra-time was good but we just didn’t have enough to hold on.”
QUEENS PARK RANGERS: Archer 7; Dickie 6, Barbet 7, Dunne 6; Adomah 7, Johansen 6, Ball 5 (Amos 70), Wallace 7 (Odubajo 59, 4) (Drewe 90); Thomas 6 (Dozzell 70); Austin 5 (Dykes 59, 7), Gray 6.
Subs not used: Walsh, Field, Duke-mckenna, Armstrong.
ROTHERHAM: Vickers 7; Edmonds-green 7 (Ogbene 59, 6), Wood 8, Ihiekwe 7; Harding 7, Barlaser 7 (Odoffin 79), Rathbone 6, Sadlier 6 (Lindsay 59, 6), Ferguson 6 (Bola 79); Smith 6, Grigg 6 (Kayode 65, 6).
Subs not used: Johansson, Macdonald, Mattock, Ladapo.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Richard Wood. Solid as oak at the back for the visitors.
REFEREE: Dean Whitestone 7.