MATCH REPORT: QPR U21s 2 Swans U21s 2
28th October
Swansea City Under-21s let slip a two-goal lead as they were held to a 2-2 draw against QPR at Harlington.
Chris Llewellyn's side raced into a two-goal lead at the break couresy of goals from Kenji Gorre and Josh Sheehan.
Rangers pulled a goal back just two minutes into the second half through Max Ehmer's header, and the hosts grabbed a point late on through Frankie Sutherland's penalty.
Substitute Kurtis March was sent off in stoppage time following a second yellow card, but the visitors survived late pressure from QPR to earn a point.
The result maintains the Under'21s' unbeaten run, which now stretches to five matches.
QPR U21s: Lumley, Furlong, Butler (Kpekawa, 80), Comley, Ehmer, Wise, Gibbons, Sutherland, Pattie (Shodipo, 62), Mitchell, Grego-Cox.
SUBS NOT USED: Kpekawa, Hudnott, Komodikis, Kakay.
SWANS U21s: Oliver Davies, Connor Roberts, Alex Gogic, Giancarlo Gallifuoco, Raheem Hanley, Owain Jones (Kurtis March, 55) Josh Sheehan, Adam King, Kenji Gorre, Ryan Hedges, Rory Donnelly.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Thomas, Corey Francis, Alex Samuel.
After a slow start at Harlington, the home side had the first effort on goal when Reece Grego-Cox's shot was comfortably held by Oliver Davies.
The Swans responded when Ryan Hedges dragged a shot wide of the far post after he robbed George Butler of possession.
Darnell Furlong - son of QPR legend Paul - came close to opening the scoring on 22 minutes but his clever shot from inside the box curled a fraction wide of goal.
The returning Adam King was having a positive influence in the centre of midfield and the Scot tested Joe Lumley from 20 yards, but the goalkeeper was equal to it.
And it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute as Hedges' corner was headed back across goal by Rory Donnelly and Kenji Gorre was on hand to apply the finish from close range.
QPR came close to an equaliser just a minute later as Aaron Mitchell was sent clear of the Swans defence but he chipped his effort over the crossbar.
The hosts had the ball in the net four minutes before the break but Max Ehmer's effort was ruled out following an infringement in the box.
Donnelly then came close to doubling the lead on 44 minutes when his close-range shot was saved by Lumley, but it was the Swans who notched a second on the stroke of half-time.
After a long ball upfield wasn't dealt with by the R's defence, Josh Sheehan nipped in and coolly slotted past the keeper.
Half-time: QPR U21s 0 Swans U21s 2
Neither side made any changes at the interval, but just two minutes into the second half and QPR halved the deficit.
From a Frankie Sutherland corner, Max Ehmer leapt highest to plant a firm header past Oliver Davies.
The same two players linked up again on 56 minutes as Sutherland's low free-kick set up Ehmer but the Swans managed to clear the danger.
Sutherland was involved once again with 15 minutes to play as his free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar as Rangers pressed for an equaliser.
And with just over ten minute to play the home side got themselves back on level terms.
After Jordan Gibbons was brought down by Raheem Hanley inside the box, Sutherland stepped up to slot home from 12 yards.
QPR then searched for the winner in the closing stages and despite Grego-Cox twice being denied by Oliver Davies, the visitors held out for a share of the points despite seeing substitute Kurtis March get sent off for a second bookable offence.
