Pierce Charles produced a stunning stoppage-time double save to earn QPR a 1-1 draw at West Ham and deny the Hammers top spot in the Championship. The 21-year-old goalkeeper, who kept four clean sheets and saved a penalty for Northern Ireland over the international break, kept out Jarrod Bowen’s spot-kick and then somehow pushed Arne Engels’ rebound onto the crossbar.
Bowen had already equalised for West Ham, cancelling out a hugely controversial first-half penalty from Nicolas Madsen. West Ham were on the wrong end of a dreadful decision when Tomas Soucek was penalised for fouling Paul Smyth. Replays showed the challenge was well outside the area and that the Hammers midfielder got the ball, and a VAR review would definitely have overturned referee Ruebyn Ricardo’s call — but with no technology in the Championship it stood, to the dismay of the majority inside the London Stadium. West Ham assistant coach Rui Pedro Silva was booked for his complaints, as was Engels for stamping on the penalty spot, but Madsen kept his cool and calmly rolled the ball into the bottom corner.
QPR almost doubled their lead from a West Ham corner, mounting a swift counterattack that left recalled striker Rayan Kolli with a shooting opportunity 15 yards out, only for Mads Hermansen to make a fine save. Just as he had done at Millwall last time out with his side 2-0 down, West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo made a double substitution at half-time, sending on Pablo Felipe and Edvin Austbø for Soucek and Kyle Walker-Peters. QPR nearly struck again when Smyth danced past Konstantinos Mavropanos and into the area, only for the Greek defender to make a crucial recovery tackle. The game also featured a tribute to former West Ham goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko, who died in September.
Bowen had been enduring a frustrating evening, well marshalled by QPR left-back Boy Kemper, until he burst into life in the 70th minute. The England international won the ball back with a crunching tackle on Ronnie Edwards, earning himself a bloody nose in the process, and Pablo played the ball back to him. Bowen darted into the area and saw his first shot blocked before snaffling the rebound for the equaliser.
West Ham went in search of a winner and Bowen’s scuffed effort looked destined for the net until Charles flung out a hand to push it past a post. Then, as the clock ticked into stoppage time, QPR substitute Amadou Mbengue grabbed a handful of Pablo’s shirt and Ricardo pointed to the spot again — but Charles superbly denied Bowen and Engels to earn his side a point.