Football news - Etienne Capoue strike sees Watford squeeze past QPR into FA Cup quarters
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ByEurosport
Updated 15/02/2019 at 22:16 GMT
FA Cup fifth round, Loftus Road - QPR 0 Watford 1 (Capoue 45'+1)
Etienne Capoue
Image credit: Getty Images
Etienne Capoue’s goal just before half-time was enough to send Watford into the FA Cup quarter-finals at the expense of QPR.
The Hornets made the hosts pay for their lack of cutting edge deep into stoppage time of an intriguing first-half, when Capoue sweeped home following a disputed corner.
It was harsh on The Championship side, who had created the better chances throughout. Massimo Luongo spurned a golden opportunity, while birthday boy Heurelho Gomes brilliantly denied Nahki Wells.
QPR had their moments after the restart, too, but Steve McClaren's charges still couldn't find their way past a resilient Watford defence marshalled by the brilliant Miguel Britos.
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Watford take the lead at QPR
Image credit: Getty Images
To compound their pain, Toni Leistner missed from three yards out in the dying stages as QPR crashed out in heart-breaking fashion.
Javi Gracia’s side become the first team to put their name in the hat for the quarter-finals, with the draw taking place after the conclusion of Chelsea vs Manchester United on Monday night.
Watford - who last enjoyed an FA Cup run three years ago, where they reached the semis before losing to Crystal Palace - will need to improve if they are to go all the way to the final for the first time since 1984.
TALKING POINT - Wasteful QPR rue missed opportunities
Coming into this contest on the back of five consecutive defeats, QPR boss McClaren talked about how unfortunate his team had been in recent weeks. And he was cursing Lady Luck once more having watched his brave charges create more than enough opportunities to win the game. In the end, Watford's quality and clinical edge took them through a very difficult tie.
With a maximum of only five other Premier League teams able to progress to the last eight, Gracia will rarely have a better chance of ending the Hornets' long wait for a first major honour.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Miguel Britos (Watford)
Marshalling Watford's defence expertly, the centre-half won a number of hugely important headers and made countless interceptions to keep the R's at bay.
PLAYER RATINGS
QPR: Lumley 6, Furlong 6, Leistner 6, Hall 6, Wszolek 7, Cousins 7, Luongo 6, Freeman 7, Bidwell 6, Wells 6, Smith 6. Subs: Osayi-Samuel N/A, Eze 5, Hemed 5.
Watford: Gomes 7, Janmaat 6, Kabasele 7, Britos 8, Holebas 6, Hughes 6, Capoue 7, Cleverley 6, Sema 6, Deeney 6, Gray 6. Subs: Doucoure 5, Quina N/A.
KEY MOMENTS
27' - WATFORD SHOULD SCORE! The ball is knocked around the QPR penalty box before it breaks kindly for Janmaat but he curls it over the bar with the outside of his boot from point-blank range.
30' - SO CLOSE! Gomes punches the corner delivery to the edge of the penalty area. Luongo strikes a first-time volley at goal, and it's not far over the top of the bar. Watford's goalkeeper was beaten.
40' - GREAT SAVE! Gomes, who had to be treated for an eye injury only minutes ago, makes a crucial one-handed save to parry Wells' volley behind for a corner, following a rapid counter-attack.
45'+1 - GOAL! QPR 0-1 Watford: The Hornets take the lead on the stroke of half-time! The corner delivery comes in, Cleverley miscues his first-time volley but it sits up nicely for Capoue who sweeps the ball into the bottom corner.
63' - QPR CHANCE! Head-in-hands moment for the hosts! Kabasele makes a mess of his clearance, giving it straight to Wells who has team mates either side of him. Selfishly, he goes for goal but bends it wide of the far post. Should have done better.
87' - HOW DOES HE MISS?! Oh my, what a sitter! Freeman's free-kick is controlled by Furlong who fizzes a cross to the far post, and Leistner races in on the slide and misses when it was easier to score!
KEY STATS
- Watford have only lost two of their past 14 matches in all competitions, winning seven and drawing five.
- The Hornets have won eight of their last nine FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division.
- They have kept six clean sheets in eight matches in all competitions.
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