Queen's Park Rangers took full advantage of their bye week, regained players from injury, and faced 7th placed FC Unionville in the quarter final round.
QPR started with high intensity, wanting to make the match theirs right from the start.
At the tenth minute, QPR play culminated in a deserved advatage, with Durai putting the ball away with a diagonal shot. 1-0 QPR.
QPR could have doubled their lead shortly after with the Unionville goalkeeper stopping a point blank shot by Melendez, after a generous play by Durai.
As most games go, when you don't kill off your opponent they become stronger. By this token, Unionville upped their game and mounted pressure on QPR who was increasingly becoming unglued with respect to tactics and psychological resilience.
The pressure paid off for Unionville deep in the second half when they were awarded a penalty. The QPR bench stood up and lined up along the touch line in support of Kang, who was beat but saw the ball hit off the crossbar and out!
QPR resisted for another 15 minutes, courtesy of some outstanding defending - led by Zaman, whose legs are black and blue as I write - and producing two good chances with Yanful and Chippy.
At the final whistle, QPR ran on the field with their arms aloft for conquering the semifinals where they will face their long-time rival, BMF United who ran out victors over QPR's bête noire NAFC Origami.
"We played a tough game with a great tempo in the first half, but came apart a little in the second half. We will play the next match with better tactical discipline and with cooler heads". QPR captain remarked after the final whistle.
Box Score
QPR 1, FC Unionville 0
QPR Goal: Durai
QPR Caution: Zaman
QPR:
Goalkeeper: Kang
Defenders: Allison, Gocool, Mulchan, Zaman, Ganeshviligham
Midfielders: Aziz, Chippy, Fasano, Bovdis, Fazli, Melendez, Sansalone, Ganesh, Guillermo
Forwards: Yanful, Durai.
Next Match: SEMIFINAL vs. BMF United, Sunday September 21, Downsview Park Field 3, 9PM
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