News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 9 years ago
Rediff.com  » Sports » Four goals in last seven minutes as Liverpool beat QPR

Four goals in last seven minutes as Liverpool beat QPR

October 19, 2014 23:50 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool celebrates with team-mates after scoring his team's ssecond goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Liverpool. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Liverpool scored a stunning 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers with four of the five goals coming in the last seven minutes capping an astonishing finale to their Premier League match at Loftus Road on Sunday.

Liverpool needed the help of two own goals for the win that lifted them to fifth in the table and left QPR bottom after a mesmerising finish.

Liverpool's winning goal came in the fifth minute of added time after Steven Caulker scored Rangers' second own goal with virtually the last kick of the game.

Richard Dunne scored the first own goal to put Liverpool 1-0 ahead in the 67th minute before Eduardo Vargas equalised for QPR after 87 minutes with a close-range shot.

But Liverpool, who will need to show a marked improvement when they play European champions Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, went 2-1 ahead with 15 seconds of normal time remaining when Philippe Coutinho scored with a curling shot that took a deflection.

Eduardo Vargas of QPR reacts at the centre circle after conceding a goal during the Barclays Premier League match. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Rangers were still not finished as Vargas headed them level at 2-2 in the second minute of stoppage time.

With time almost up, one final Liverpool counter-attack in the 95th minute ended with Caulker putting through his own goal to give Liverpool all three points.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told Sky Sports: "QPR certainly didn't deserve to lose. I thought we were very, very lucky to get the win.

"We showed tremendous character and were a little bit better in the second half but QPR definitely deserved something from the game."

Simon Mignolet of Liverpool fails to prevent Eduardo Vargas of QPR scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

QPR, with only one league win all season, dominated the first half and had three good chances to score before the break with Bobby Zamora causing endless problems among the nervy Liverpool defence.

First Charlie Austin was denied from close range by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet before shooting into the side netting and then Leroy Fer twice hit the woodwork in an eight minute spell.

Fer's first chance came after 28 minutes when Zamora squared for the Dutchman who ran on to the ball only to fire a rising shot against the bar.

Six minutes later Fer headed another Zamora cross against the bar and although Sandro went close to forcing the ball home from the follow-up, Glen Johnson cleared off the line.

Liverpool came more into the match in the second half and had a great chance of their own to take the lead after 61 minutes when an Adam Lallana shot was parried away by keeper Alex McCarthy. Mario Balotelli also blasted high over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Richard Dunne of QPR scores an own goal past Alex McCarthy. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

The breakthrough came in the 67th minute when Liverpool took the lead through Dunne's own goal -- the 10th of his career -- but QPR looked like they had saved a point when Vargas levelled with his first equaliser with time running out.

In the event though, it was just the start of an astonishing finale that left QPR bottom of the table.

Chelsea lead the standings with 22 points from eight games after their 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday while Manchester City, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1, are second with 17. Liverpool have 13 while QPR remain bottom on four, the same number as Burnley who lost 3-1 at home to West Ham on Saturday.

 

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024