Despite a fantastic Terry Devlin strike from distance early on, Queens Park Rangers managed to fire 3 goals in 14 minutes to claim victory on the opening day of the new Championship season.
Goals from Ilias Chair, Kōki Saitō, and then Chair again in added time of the first half earned the R’s the three points.
The loss is John Mousinho’s first on opening day in the Championship.
There was one change to the side that lost 3-1 in the first round of the Carabao Cup at the London Stadium vs West Ham United last weekend.
In came marquee summer signing Abu Kamara for Luke Le Roux, as well as debuts later on for Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Benjamin Arthur, who both joined on loan from Premier League sides during the week.
Portsmouth started off the more lively of the two sides, and pressed the QPR backline with exerted pressure on several occasions.
But it was Devlin who struck home the first goal, when the Northern Ireland international picked up a deal ball from around 25 yards out, before smashing an effort past Pierce Charles to make it 1-0 inside 15 minutes.
Mousinho’s side kept up the tempo, and came close to doubling their lead via Adrian Segečić, but the Blues number 10 could not quite get his footing right before aiming a shot at goal.
R’s full-back Boy Kemper went down with injury, forcing an early drinks break, before the one marked for the 25th minute.
And from that moment, it was where things changed for Pompey.
Kwame Poku pulled the ball back to Harvey Vale, who dinked a ball into the six-yard box where Chair arrived to flick the ball past Nicolas Schmid to make it 1-1.
It was then 2-1 moments later, when Rumarn Burrell played in Chair, who then found Saitō, who burst forward before finishing a deflected shot, which fell into the back of the net.
Chair then added a third, two minutes into the seven of additional time added onto the first half, when Moroccan attacker tapped home Amadou Mbengue’s ball across goal.
HALF-TIME: Portsmouth 1-3 QPR
At the break, Kavuma-McQueen came on for his Blues debut, and he certainly went on to show some glimpses of promise on first the left, then right wing.
The Chelsea loanee almost scored with one of his very first touches in a Blues shirt, but the 17-year old’s shot at goal was denied by Charles.
Pompey had chances to pull a goal back in the second-half, and Kamara very nearly scored his first Blues goal in over two years when Charles gave the ball away, but the Manchester City loanee rushed back in between the sticks to make the save.
Rangers also had chances to extend their lead to four goals, but Chair had an effort comfortably saved by Schmid, and Alfie Lloyd was unable to get onto a ball to the back post.
Brentford loanee Arthur, Josh Murphy and Marko Milovanović also came on for Pompey, but despite their efforts, no sub could quite make an impact to change the scoreline.
FULL-TIME: Portsmouth 1-3 QPR
Portsmouth: 1. Schmid (GK), 24. Devlin, 5. Poole (29. Marezi), 6. Shaughnessy, 22. Swanson (2. Arthur), 19. Shein, 32. Adams (27. Bailey), 28. Brooke-Smith (25. Kavuma-McQueen), 11. Kamara (23. Murphy),10. Segečić, 9. Bishop (C) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 31. Bielca (GK), 8. Swift, 16. Le Roux, 55. Dia
Goals: Devlin 15’
Head coach: John Mousinho
QPR: 1. Charles (GK), 27. Mbengue (40. Varane), 3. Dunne (C), 6. Clarke-Salter, 12. Kemper (2. Adamson), 5. Edwards, 20. Vale, 17. Poku (18. Kamara), 10. Chair, 14. Saitō (11. Smyth), 16. Burrell (15. Lloyd) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 13. Ward (GK), 4. Morrison, 22. Kone, 23. Alemayehu
Goals: Chair 33’ & 45+2’, Saitō 40’
Bookings: Edwards 25’
Head coach: Julien Stéphan
Referee: Will Finnie
Venue: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,479 (including 2,197 away fans)
Today's Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast recorded at Fratton Park after the full-time whistle is now available to listen back to.
Join Jake Smith and 2 more Blues fans on Monday (August 17th) night from 6pm to hear further reaction to this match.
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