QPR produced another trademark second-half comeback at the Masters Grand Final on Sunday – but it was not enough to avoid another quarter-final exit. The Rangers veterans had pulled off two astonishing recoveries against Arsenal and West Ham to retain the
QPR produced another trademark second-half comeback at the Masters Grand Final on Sunday - but it was not enough to avoid another quarter-final exit.
The Rangers veterans had pulled off two astonishing recoveries against Arsenal and West Ham to retain the London Masters title in July and that trend seemed set to continue at the LG Arena, Birmingham.
Trailing 3-1 to Barnsley, they fought back to 3-3 to force a sudden-death penalty shoot-out, but Karl Connolly's spot-kick was saved and Bruce Dyer netted to send the Tykes through.
It was the second year running Rangers had bowed out in the last eight of the tournament, following their defeat by Middlesbrough in 2009.
Simon Royce made two saves to deny Dyer before the Barnsley striker finally opened the scoring, and Nicky Eaden rifled a second for the Yorkshire side on the stroke of half-time.
Wayne Fereday teed up Marcus Bignot for a left-foot finish that zipped under Tykes goalkeeper Kevin Miller, but poor defending allowed Deiniol Graham to restore Barnsley's two-goal advantage.
Rangers refused to give up, though, and Bignot hooked a chance over the bar before Miller saved Fereday's effort and Michael Meaker pounced to make it 3-2.
Meaker then rattled the crossbar, but Tony Thorpe tapped in the equaliser and Bignot might have won it but for a flying stop from Miller - whose next save, from Connolly, ended QPR's hopes of glory.
Barnsley were themselves eliminated on sudden-death penalties by home side Birmingham City, who went on to win another shoot-out in the final against defending champions Tranmere Rovers.
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