Marti Cifuentes had nothing but praise for Joe Walsh following QPR’s victory over Luton in the Carabao Cup, where they secured a spot in the third round after a thrilling penalty shootout. The game ended in a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road, with Kenneth Paal scoring the winning penalty for Rangers as they emerged victorious with a 4-1 shootout score, converting all their spot-kicks.
QPR’s summer signing Hevertton Santos, in his full debut, opened the scoring for the team after 11 minutes, capitalising on a parried shot from Elijah Dixon-Bonner to find the back of the net. However, Luton quickly equalised through Zack Nelson’s powerful volley, marking his first senior goal.
Throughout the game, Walsh showcased his talent with a fantastic save from Carlton Morris’ header and a crucial save from Cauley Woodrow’s penalty during the shootout. Cifuentes expressed his delight with Walsh’s performance, highlighting his importance to the team and describing him as a “fantastic keeper.”
Despite the victory, Cifuentes admitted that the team’s performance was a bit mixed, with both positive and negative moments. He acknowledged the challenges of integrating new faces into the squad but remained optimistic about the team’s progress.
In the shootout, Zan Celar, Karamoko Dembele, and Jake Clarke-Salter successfully converted their penalties for QPR, while Alfie Doughty was the sole scorer for Luton. After Tahith Chong hit the bar, Paal secured the win for the R’s with a well-taken penalty.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to face each other again in the Championship at Luton on Friday evening, providing an opportunity for further competition and development. Cifuentes emphasised the importance of building on their performance and continuing to work on cohesion within the team.
The lineup for QPR included Walsh, Dunne, Cook, Morrison, Paal, Colback, Varane, Santos, Dixon-Bonner, Saito, and Celar, with substitutes Lloyd, Clarke-Salter, Madsen, and Smyth also making appearances. The team’s depth and versatility were on display throughout the match, showcasing their potential for future success in the competition.
