DIENG’S A RED-HOT FINISHER
KEEPER Seny Dieng scored a sensational 93rd-minute equaliser to grab a point for QPR.
The Swiss-born Senegalese headed home a cross from man of the match Ilias Chair deep in injury time after Chair had hauled the Londoners back into the game with an 87th-minute free-kick.
Dieng celebrated in front of the travelling support – and amazingly it is not the first time he has struck in injury time.
The journeyman keeper was playing for National League South outfit Whitehawk when he netted in the 91st minute against Chippenham Town.
This time he went up for a corner, and when the ball was cleared to Chair, he rose unmarked to flick a deft header home.
It was a devastating blow to Sunderland who had led 2-0 thanks to goals from Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms in the first half, and were top of the league when they were winning.
But QPR roared back into life in the second half with Chair and Tyler Roberts breaking well and forcing Sunderland into retreat.
Even after Dieng’s goal, Elliot
Embleton still had time to hit the underside of the bar in the 96th minute.
But Dieng was the hero and joked he might become a striker.
Dieng said: “We got a corner and I thought if not now then when? It was a nice cross and I got my head on it with a nice connection.
“Scoring is a nice feeling. I’ll have to think about being a striker! At the time I couldn’t think of a celebration then the players were all around me. “My team-mates were buzzing.” Black Cats boss Alex Neil said: “The goalie scored a header. Even saying it seems ridiculous. We have lost the game in the last five minutes. I’m not happy.”
SUNDERLAND: Patterson 6; Ballard 4 (O’nien (9) 6), Batth 6, Cirkin 6; Gooch 6, Evans 6, Neil 6 (Embleton
(88) 6), Clarke 6; Pritchard 7 (Wright (88) 6); Simms 7 (Roberts (60) 6), Stewart 7
QPR: Dieng 8, Kakay 6, Dickie 6, Dunne 6, Hamaalaien 6 (Bonne (90) 5); Johansen 6 (Dozzell (74) 6), Field 6; Adomah 5 (Roberts (45) 7), Chair 8, Shodipo 6 (Armstrong (81) 6); Dykes 6
STAR MAN: Ilias Chair – Scored a free-kick and created Dieng’s wonder goal.
REF: Jeremy Simpson 7