West Ham United were held 1-1 by Queens Park Rangers in a dramatic London derby at the London Stadium on Friday night, with captain Jarrod Bowen scoring a second-half equalizer before missing a stoppage-time penalty that was spectacularly saved by QPR goalkeeper Pierce Charles. The result, in the sides' first EFL Championship fixture since the international break, kept the Hammers out of the automatic promotion summit they had been chasing.
Bowen's Night of Redemption and Regret
Jarrod Bowen saw his 91st-minute penalty saved as West Ham missed the chance to move top of the Sky Bet Championship after a 1-1 draw with QPR. The captain had already produced the moment West Ham fans had been craving, reacting quickly to thump in a loose ball after his initial shot was blocked by Jimmy Dunne to level the scores.
Minutes from full time, Bowen was handed a second chance to be the hero. Amadou Mbengue tugged the shirt of Pablo in the penalty area, and Bowen had the chance to win it from the spot. This time there was no controversy over the award — the decision was by no means a controversial one, with Mbengue penalized for an egregious shirt pull.
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Pierce Charles Produces the Save of the Night
Standing between Bowen and victory was Charles, who delivered a stop that instantly became the story of the match. Pierce Charles dived low to his left to keep out the initial effort, then reacted in a flash to tip Arne Engels' follow-up over the bar. Other reports describe the rebound crashing off the frame of the goal rather than over it, but every account agrees the sequence denied West Ham all three points.
A Manchester City Academy Product Coming of Age
The 20-year-old is enjoying a breakout campaign away from home. Pierce Charles is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers on loan from Premier League club Manchester City, and born in England, he plays for the Northern Ireland national team. He returned to Manchester City this past summer in a deal that could rise to £10 million from Sheffield Wednesday, before immediately being sent to West London to continue his development. Back in Northern Ireland colors, Charles is a key player between the sticks for his country and has made the number one spot his own at Windsor Park. At QPR, the Hoops signed the highly-rated goalkeeper on loan from Manchester City over the summer and he has made their number one spot his own.
How the Goals Went In
QPR struck first through a contentious decision. Rangers' penalty was hugely controversial, with Tomas Soucek getting the ball — and doing so outside the box — only to be adjudged to have fouled Paul Smyth. Madsen calmly netted from the spot, and Rangers kept the frustrated Hammers at bay until Bowen levelled. West Ham's response came after halftime changes, with Bowen allowed to cut in from the right flank onto his left foot after Boy Kemper, who had kept him quiet, was replaced by Tariq Lamptey.
Standings After the Draw
Before kickoff, West Ham sat second in the Championship, placing them among the automatic promotion contenders, while QPR were sixth, occupying a playoff position. A win would have sent Nuno Espirito Santo's side above the league's early leaders, but the draw leaves them still chasing that spot. West Ham remain unbeaten in their last six matches against QPR in all competitions, and Rangers have yet to win any of the previous meetings between the clubs — a run the visitors extended rather than broke.
What's Next for Both Clubs
For West Ham, the frustration compounds a difficult stretch; Nuno's side had fallen off top spot just prior to the international break when they were held to a 2-2 draw away at Millwall. QPR, meanwhile, continue a stubborn unbeaten run under Julien Stephan built on draws rather than wins, with Charles increasingly the difference-maker behind a QPR side still searching for its first victory over the Hammers. Both clubs return to action with the automatic promotion and playoff picture still unsettled heading toward the next round of English football fixtures.
The night also carried an emotional note at the London Stadium, where the hosts paid tribute to goalkeeper and coach Ludek Miklosko, who died last month. Fittingly, it was a goalkeeper's heroics at the other end that decided the contest.