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Saturday, February 25, 2006

Sheffield United 2 QPR 3...Reports

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QPR come from being 2-1 down (and with Sheff Ut almost making it 3-1 -having a penalty saved) to win 3-2.

QPR Official Site
An inspiring performance from Rangers in a truly enthralling game saw the Superhoops complete a season's double over the Blades.
Goals from Marc Nygaard and Paul Furlong came either side of a Chris Morgan own goal in an end to end game.
The first half was a game of swings and roundabouts as United went in ahead after Rangers had gone in front.
Marc Nygaard had given Rangers the lead with just six minutes on the clock.
But Ade Akinbiyi's header, following by a Marc Bircham own goal turned the game on its head before the break.
The suspension of Gareth Ainsworth and Mauro Milanese meant the return of Paul Furlong and Marc Bircham.
Paul Jones' penalty save early in the second half meant the game was kept on a knife edge for the remainder and when Chris Morgan headed into the back of his own net - it was game on once more.
When Furlong applied the finishing touch to Cook's through ball, Rangers were in front once more, leading to a nail biting final 15 minutes.
The opening exchanges were fairly quiet and Rangers passed the ball around neatly.
The wide open spaces were providing the Superhoops with the perfect stage to play their new improved passing game.
And it soon paid off when Marcus Bignot played through Marc Nygaard into acres of space.
His huge strides took him into the area where he was faced with Paddy Kenny, Rob Kozluk and Chris Morgan.
Somehow Nygaard continued to carry the ball and just as it looked as though he had missed his chance to strike, the ball cannoned off a stray leg and fell back into his path.
Seizing his opportunity, Nygaard side footed the ball straight down the middle and into the back of the net.Rangers took the lead in their stride and were determined not to let the lead change their game plan.
Meanwhile the Blades crowd was beginning to get on their teams back for failing to deal with Rangers' dominance.
Paul Jones was called into action when Chris Armstrong's free kick needed a touch to send it over the bar, but after that, it was back to Rangers enjoying the possession.
Despite this, United pulled level on 22 minutes when Ade Akinbiyi's looping header seemed to hang in their air before inching up and over Jones to hit the back of the net.
Buoyed by their equaliser, United then enjoyed their period of dominance and made it count when Bircham caught the ball from an inswinging corner and flick it into his own net.
The fact that Paul Jones had been pinned to his line incensed the Rangers players, but their appeals fell on deaf ears.
Cook had a great chance to level the game before the break when his free kick looked to be every inch the goal, but Kenny parried clear.
Kenny was again called to rescue the Blades when Cook squared for Furlong. All the front man had to do was add the finish, but Kenny was on hand to get down and hold the ball.
The second half began disastrously for Rangers after Ian Evatt pulled down Morgan in the box.
But when Paul Ifill stepped up to take the spot kick, his poor effort was easily saved by Jones who guessed correctly.
Suddenly the impetus was with Rangers and the own goal stakes were levelled when Morgan headed into the Rangers net.
Cook's delivery after a short corner was flicked on by Nygaard and the Blades captain took the slightest of touches to get the better of his own keeper.
An injury to Marc Nygaard allowed Sammy Youssof to enter the field and freshen up the attack.
Within minutes Rangers had taken the lead, thanks again to some slick passing in the midfield.
Lee Cook stormed through and put through the diagonal ball into the path of Furlong and the Rangers man applied the perfect finish to give Rangers the lead once more.
Rangers could have had a two goal cushion seconds later when Cook's fierce drive looked to have been under control, but Kenny dropped the ball into the path of Furlong.
The ever green Furlong had the whole goal to aim at, but his first time strike cannoned off the cross bar to gift United the luckiest of escapes.
It was a tense finale, but Rangers held out for an impressive double over the high flying Blades.

Sheffield United: Kenny, Morgan, Jagielka, Ifill, Akinbiyi (Shipperley 78), Kozluk, Montgomery (Unsworth 63), Tonge, Armstrong, Collins, Horsfield (Webber 66)Subs: Flitcroft, KabbaScorers: Akinbiyi 22, Bircham (OG) 29Bookings: TongeRangers: Jones, Bignot, Evatt, Shittu, Rose, Bircham, Cook, Furlong, Nygaard (Youssof 71), Lomas (Santos 90), LangleySubs: Bailey, Baidoo, ThomasScorers: Nygaard 6, Morgan (OG) 56, Furlong 74Bookings: Nygaard, Langley, Shittu, LomasRef: K FriendAtt: 25,360
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10373~31190,00.html


LEAGUE TABLE AFTER TODAY
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/tables/default.stm