Sunderland 2-2 QPR: Goalkeeper Seny Dieng scores to earn Rangers a point
- Published
- comments
Seny Dieng's goal came in stoppage time, two minutes over the allotted 90 minutes
Goalkeeper Seny Dieng scored in stoppage time to rescue a comeback point for Queens Park Rangers at unbeaten Sunderland, who had led 2-0 for 47 minutes.
The Senegal keeper completed a remarkable fightback when he headed in two minutes into added time and still had time to make key saves, clawing one effort away, and was also fortunate that Elliot Embleton's effort struck the crossbar.
Sunderland's new strike partnership of Ellis Simms and Ross Stewart continued their bright start with first-half goals apiece to establish a 2-0 lead.
Stewart opened the scoring when he fired in after Dieng had denied Dan Neil, while Everton loanee Simms followed up his winning double last weekend with a third for the Black Cats when he took an Alex Pritchard pass and prodded in.
Neil might have extended the lead but fired wide after the break, however it was a more positive spell for Rangers, who saw Osman Kakay blast over and Tyler Roberts drag wide.
Eventually Ilias Chair did get it right, firing home a free-kick with three minutes remaining before Dieng stole the headlines - and a point - for the R's.
'Even Les Ferdinand would be happy with that'
The comic-book finish which culminated in Dieng's bullet header would have impressed any of the R's goalscoring greats of the past - including director of football Les Ferdinand, who was in attendance at the Stadium of Light.
Dieng, who met Chair's cross with a thumping effort to square it up, became the first goalkeeper to net for Rangers.
"It was a fantastic header - Les would be happy with that one," boss Michael Beale told BBC Radio London.
"He finishes it really well, it's actually really good technique, so well played to him."
Despite the excitement and wild scenes of celebration which following the goal, and the earning of a point, Dieng seemed to take the moment in his stride.
The Swiss-born 27-year-old did share in the moment with the 904-strong travelling support at the Stadium of Light, whose long journey back to West London from Wearside was made more tolerable by the last-gasp finish.
"He's very modest, so he's calmed down in there, but his team-mates are making a fuss of him," Beale added.
"I believe he's one of the best goalkeepers in this league, I think he's destined for really big things and we're delighted to have him.
"The effort from them [fans] is incredible - it's lovely to reward them - I hope they were still here when Seny scored, I hope some of them didn't get away early because they'd have missed a wonderful one."
Progress made by both sides
Alex Neil's Black Cats have shown in three games they are a competitive outfit in the second tier after five seasons away, with a win and two draws to show for their performances.
Pritchard's creativity has been key, while Simms, who was hard-working rather than prolific at Hearts last season, has taken the weight off Stewart in the need for goalscoring exploits.
However, much like the Coventry draw, their opponents struck late to deny them maximum points.
Michael Beale has also delivered a reasonable start for the R's, who since losing to Blackburn on the opening day have taken four points from six.
He has talked of adding to the firepower at Loftus Road, perhaps emphasised by their struggle to make a breakthrough until Chair and Dieng's late contributions.
Sunderland boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"We deserved to win the game, the fact your first question was that this would feel like a defeat signifies how well we played, certainly first half.
"Second-half, apart from the Tyler Roberts chance when he cuts across and put it wide, we defended pretty well.
"I could just see the game petering out, but two transitions ultimately cause two chances, the free-kick and second header both end up in the back of the net. We'll see 1,000s of games and times where even if they get better chances than that, we'll still win the game."