A stoppage-time penalty save from goalkeeper Pierce Charles cost West Ham United the chance to climb to the summit of the Championship, as Queens Park Rangers held out for a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.
The 21-year-old shot-stopper produced a remarkable piece of goalkeeping deep into injury time, getting down to deny Jarrod Bowen from the spot before reacting instantly to tip Arne Engels' follow-up effort onto the crossbar. It capped a memorable night for Charles, who had already kept four clean sheets and saved a penalty for Northern Ireland during the recent international break.
The match had turned on a contentious refereeing decision in the first half, when Tomas Soucek was adjudged to have fouled Paul Smyth inside the box. Television replays suggested the contact occurred well outside the penalty area and that Soucek had got a touch on the ball, but without VAR technology available in the Championship, referee Ruebyn Ricardo's call stood. The decision angered the home supporters and led to West Ham assistant coach Rui Pedro Silva being shown a yellow card for his protests. Engels was also booked after stamping on the penalty spot, but Rangers forward Nicolas Madsen remained composed, sending his effort calmly into the bottom corner to put the visitors ahead.
West Ham responded and nearly doubled their deficit shortly after, when a swift counterattack following a home corner gave recalled QPR striker Rayan Kolli a clear sight of goal from 15 yards. Hammers goalkeeper Mads Hermansen produced a strong save to keep the scoreline unchanged.
At half-time, West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo made wholesale changes, introducing Pablo Felipe and Edvin Austbø in place of Soucek and Kyle Walker-Peters — a move that echoed his tactical response during his side's previous outing at Millwall, when West Ham had also trailed 2-0 at the break. Rangers continued to threaten after the restart, with Smyth skipping past Konstantinos Mavropanos and into the box, only for the Greek centre-back to recover superbly and make a vital challenge.
West Ham's equalizer arrived in the 70th minute through their captain. Bowen first won possession with a strong tackle on Ronnie Edwards, picking up a bloody nose in the process, before Pablo returned the ball to him moments later. The England international drove into the penalty area, saw his initial effort blocked, and reacted quickest to tuck away the rebound.
Sensing an opportunity to snatch all three points, West Ham pushed forward in search of a winner. Bowen came close again, but his scuffed shot was brilliantly turned behind by Charles, who continued to frustrate the hosts.
The decisive moment came in stoppage time when QPR substitute Amadou Mbengue was penalized for pulling Pablo's shirt, prompting referee Ricardo to point to the spot for a second time. However, Charles once again rose to the occasion, saving Bowen's attempt and then somehow keeping out Engels' rebound to preserve a share of the spoils for his side.
The result means West Ham miss out on the opportunity to move top of the Championship table, while QPR will take great satisfaction from a hard-fought point secured in large part by their young goalkeeper's heroics.
Before kickoff, a tribute was held at the London Stadium in memory of former West Ham goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko, who passed away in September.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.