Bournemouth come from 2-0 down to beat QPR in FA Cup

6 Jan 2024
Bournemouth

Premier League Bournemouth scored three second-half goals as they recovered from 2-0 down to win at Championship strugglers Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup third round.

Half-time substitute Justin Kluivert completed the fightback in front of the Cherries' travelling supporters, converting from point-blank range after Philip Billing had regained possession deep inside the QPR half.

Two goals in as many first-half minutes from Sinclair Armstrong and Lyndon Dykes had put Marti Cifuentes' side firmly in the driving seat at Loftus Road, after the Cherries had spurned several good opportunities to get their noses in front.

But Andoni Iraola's team emerged for the second half with a point to prove and halved the deficit through Marcus Tavernier's deflected effort, before Kieffer Moore's towering header restored parity 10 minutes later.

And Kluivert converted midway through the second period to spark jubilant scenes among the 3,000-strong visiting contingent.

"Even at half-time, we all believed we could score two or three goals," Iraola told BBC Sport. "Luckily for us it finished well but we suffered, especially in the first half.

"We didn't play with the required intensity and had no choice but to play much better in the second half, with more urgency and more direct attacking.

"Luckily I think we did that really well. We had the chances, we got the goals and deserved the win."

Dykes almost got on the end of a low cross to make it 3-3, but Max Aarons managed to beat the QPR striker to the ball and the home side were unable to make the most of the resulting corner.

The visitors will discover their fourth-round opponents when the draw takes place on 8 January.

Reaction to Queens Park Rangers v Bournemouth and the rest of Saturday's FA Cup action.Cherries make amends for wasteful first half

Bournemouth's impressive seven-match unbeaten run came to an end at Tottenham last weekend, but despite making seven changes at Loftus Road they settled quickly and went close through Moore's header inside two minutes.

The Cherries were a persistent threat down the left in the first half but Billing, Luis Sinisterra and Alex Scott all failed to hit the target from promising positions - and QPR took full advantage of the visitors' profligacy.

Armstrong, whose last goal came in a 2-1 victory over Cardiff back in August, had already stung Travers' palms from a tight angle before his well-taken opener, which came following a fine solo run from the 20-year-old Republic of Ireland international.

While there was an element of fortune in Dykes' strike, which hit Aarons on its way past Travers, it was no less than Cifuentes' team deserved for their first-half efforts - but they were unable to sustain their momentum in the second half as Bournemouth came roaring back.

Iraola brought on Kluivert and Ryan Christie at the break and the changes paid off as his team fought back to level 13 minutes into the second half.

It seemed only a matter of time before the Cherries completed the turnaround, and Kluivert converted nine minutes after Moore's equaliser to break the home side's resolve.

Bournemouth nearly made it 4-2 late on when Tavernier's free-kick struck the top of the crossbar, but the visitors held on comfortably to seal their place in the next round.

Line-ups
QPR

Formation 4-3-3

1Begovic29DreweSubstituted forKakayat 61'minutes3Dunne15Fox21Larkeche19Dixon-BonnerSubstituted forPedderat 89'minutes8FieldSubstituted forTallaat 80'minutes17Dozzell11SmythSubstituted forAdomahat 61'minutes30Armstrong9DykesSubstituted forPaalat 80'minutesSubstitutes2Kakay6Clarke-Salter20Cannon22Paal24Duke-McKenna34Pedder37Adomah40Salamon41Talla
Bournemouth

Formation 4-2-3-1

42Travers37AaronsBooked at 59mins6MephamSubstituted forChristieat 45'minutes25Senesi16Tavernier14Scott4L CookBooked at 87mins7BrooksSubstituted forKluivertat 45'minutes29BillingBooked at 17minsSubstituted forAdu-Adjeiat 89'minutes17Sinisterra21MooreSubstituted forZabarnyiat 84'minutesSubstitutes8Rothwell10Christie13Marcondes19Kluivert20Radu26Kilkenny27Zabarnyi43Greenwood51Adu-Adjei

Referee:Rebecca Welch

Attendance:10,725

Match Stats
Live Text

Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 2, Bournemouth 3.

Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 2, Bournemouth 3.

Foul by Daniel Adu-Adjei (Bournemouth).

Ziyad Larkeche (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Luis Sinisterra (Bournemouth).

Osman Kakay (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Luis Sinisterra (Bournemouth).

Osman Kakay (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth) hits the bar with a left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right from a direct free kick.

Daniel Adu-Adjei (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Morgan Fox (Queens Park Rangers).

Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Rafferty Pedder replaces Elijah Dixon-Bonner.

Substitution, Bournemouth. Daniel Adu-Adjei replaces Philip Billing.

Lewis Cook (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Lewis Cook (Bournemouth).

Sinclair Armstrong (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Morgan Fox.

Foul by Alex Scott (Bournemouth).

Kenneth Paal (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Bournemouth. Illia Zabarnyi replaces Kieffer Moore.

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