Plymouth Argyle 3-2 QPR: FLW reports as Oseni brace sees Pilgrims progress in EFL Cup | OneFootball

Carabao Cup action as Plymouth Argyle hosted QPR in the first round.

Plymouth Argyle beat Queens Park Rangers in an epic five-goal thriller, which saw them come from 2-0 down to win 3-2, securing Tom Cleverley's first competitive victory in charge of the Greens.

Plymouth started strongly, but fell behind when a deep cross was headed goalwards by Rumarn Burrell. Luca Ashby-Hammond saved the initial header, but the rebound fell to Daniel Bennie, who couldn't miss from mere yards out.

Argyle had a chance to level from the spot when Burrell dragged down Tegan Finn, but Jamie Paterson's effort was saved before Rayan Kolli doubled QPR's lead by turning home another deep cross in first-half stoppage time.

Two quickfire goals from new signings Brendan Wiredu and Owen Oseni in the first ten minutes of the second-half evapourated QPR's lead, and set up an exciting final 30 minutes of the match.

With just under 15 minutes left, Oseni completed the turnaround by sliding home Caleb Watts' deep cross, earning the Pilgrims a place in the second round draw, and their first competitive win of the season.

Plymouth Argyle 3-2 Queens Park Rangers

The Greens started brightly, and some nice interchange in the midfield freed Kornel Szucs down the right flank. His low-driven cross found Joe Hatch, who skied his effort from mere yards out.

Tegan Finn then showed why he's so highly rated at Home Park by skipping past three QPR players before being taken down on the edge of the box. The resulting free-kick was fired high and wide, not troubling Paul Nardi.

Despite the bright start, QPR took the lead just after 20 minutes when Elijah Dixon-Bonner's deep ball found Rumarn Burrell at the back post. His header was saved well by Ashby-Hammond, but the ball fell to Bennie, who couldn't miss.

Just minutes later, Argyle had a chance to level when Finn was tripped by Burrell in the box. Paterson stepped up but Nardi was equal to it, producing a great save down to his right.

40 minutes in, Burrell had a chance to make it 2-0 after latching on to a long ball and outpacing Victor Palsson and Brendan Wiredu, but his effort crept just wide of the far post.

The R's should've been reduced to ten men on the stroke of half-time as the already-booked Emmerson Sutton slid in dangerously on Hatch. Somehow, referee John Busby didn't dish out a second yellow, letting the visitors off with one.

The night went from bad to worse for the Pilgrims when Kolli headed home a second in stoppage time. A lovely short corner routine from Julien Stephan's side saw Harvey Vale's cross to the back post headed in by the winger.

Down the other end, Nardi had to make two excellent saves to deny Szucs and then Finn, preserving his side's two-goal advantage as the referee blew for half-time.

Straight after the resumption, Argyle had one back through Wiredu. A corner from Finn was headed back across goal by Palsson, and his defensive colleague steered it home for his first goal in green.

The creator of the first goal almost had the second for himself just minutes later, as another corner to the back post was headed towards goal by the skipper, but it was cleared off the line by Tylon Smith.

It didn't matter though, as Argyle clawed themselves level with 35 minutes on the clock. A wonderful cross from Ayman Benarous, once again to the back post, was slid home by Oseni, for his first goal in an Argyle shirt.

The hosts had a scare when a shot from distance was driven at goal after a poor clearance from a QPR corner which looked bound for the corner, but Ashby-Hammond got down well to prevent it from trickling in.

Nardi then produced a great save from a curling Paterson free-kick at the other end, before the ball was eventually recycled and put over the bar by Oseni, who was unmarked at the back stick.

The former St Mirren man would get his second just minutes later though, as, you guessed it, a deep cross from substitute Watts found Oseni lurking at the back post, who stroked it home calmly to complete the turnaround.

Paterson had to be withdrawn in the last few minutes of the match, which saw his side forced to see out the end of the match with ten men, as they'd used all five substitutions.

Fortunately, Cleverley's side held on for the victory, securing the new manager's first competitive win in charge of the club, and giving spirits around Home Park a much-needed lift.

Plymouth Argyle player ratings

L. Ashby-Hammond - 5

K. Szucs - 7 (M. Sorinola 65'(6))

B. Wiredu - 7

V. Palsson - 6

A. Benarous - 8

M. Boateng - 8

B. Ibrahim - 5 (C. Watts 57'(7))

T. Finn - 8 (X. Amaechi 65'(6))

J. Paterson - 6

J. Hatch - 5 (B. Mumba 57'(6))

O. Oseni - 9 (A. Pepple 77'(6))

Unused substitutes: Z. Baker, J. Flower, J. Mwaro, S. Campbell

Queens Park Rangers player ratings

P. Nardi - 7

J. Putman - 5 (K. Brunson 86'(6))

A. Wilkie - 5

T. Smith - 6

H. Vale - 7

E. Dixon-Bonner - 7 (T. Tarbotton 89'(N/A))

J. Pearman - 5 (A. Trujillo 86'(6))

R. Kolli - 7

D. Bennie - 7

E. Sutton - 5 (L. Talla 46'(6))

R. Burrell - 7 (C. Dillion 46'(6))

Unused substitutes: M. Salamon, N. McCann, A. Tuck, J. Leahy

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Match attendance

There were 10,884 fans present for the Carabao Cup first round at Home Park, including an impressive 996 from QPR.

Speaking with The Daily Echo after his Plymouth side completed a thrilling comeback win, a pleased Cleverley said: “We were fantastic tonight, apart from our box defending.

“It’s the third game in a row we have conceded from a set-piece and that can’t keep happening.

“I have never seen a more one-sided game that we have gone in at 2-0 down at half-time.

“It was great to come back and score from our own set-piece.

“It’s a balancing act for me now as a coach, with us losing so many players through injury.

“I am delighted for Owen [Oseni]. He took his goals really well.

“Everyone will talk about how young QPR were, but we had two teenagers and Ayman Benarous – who has not played for three years – so we were not the most experienced.”

Julien Stephan reacts as QPR blow two-goal lead, and crash out of the EFL Cup

Also speaking to The Daily Echo post-match, QPR boss Stephan said: “First half they [Plymouth] had more of the ball than us, but we did well on the counter-attack and from set-pieces.

“The momentum changed in the second half after they scored two quick goals.

“Credit to Plymouth, but I was really proud of our youngsters. It was a good opportunity for the young players to gain experience.

“It was a good lesson for everyone. I want to thank the fans. They were amazing for us, and I hope they are the same against Watford.”