QPR 6-1 Portsmouth: Smyth, Kolli and Kone All Bag Braces in Loftus Road Rout

Match Details

• Competition: Sky Bet Championship (Matchday 39)
• Date: Saturday 21st March 2026
• Venue: Loftus Road, London
• Final Score: Queens Park Rangers 6 - 1 Portsmouth
• Attendance: 16,962
• Referee: John Busby

Match Stats & Key Metrics

	QPR	Portsmouth
Score	6	1
Half Time	3	1
Goalscorers	Smyth 7', 29', Kolli 24', 55', Kone 86' (pen), 87'	Swift 38'
Possession	40%	60%
Shots (On Target)	9 (8)	20 (7)
Corners	1	9
Yellow Cards	Mbengue 22', Hayden 32', Norrington-Davies 73', Kone 90+4'	Adams 32', Devlin 90+2'
Red Cards	-	-
Attendance	16,962

The Story of the Match

PAUL SMYTH, Rayan Kolli and Richard Kone all scored twice apiece as QPR produced one of the most clinical displays of their season to thrash relegation-threatened Portsmouth 6-1 at Loftus Road on a satisfying afternoon for the home faithful. Rangers had lost their previous three home matches but roared back to form in devastating fashion, scoring three times inside the opening half hour before adding three more to complete the rout.

QPR head coach Julien Stephan set up in a 4-4-2 formation with Joe Walsh in goal, a back four of Amadou Salif Mbengue, Jimmy Dunne (captain), Ronnie Edwards and Rhys Norrington-Davies, a midfield four of Harvey Vale, Isaac Hayden, Kieran Morgan and Paul Smyth, with Rayan Kolli and Richard Kone as the front two.

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho opted for a 4-2-3-1 with Nicolas Schmid in goal, Terry Devlin, Regan Poole, Conor Shaughnessy and Connor Ogilvie across the back, Marlon Pack (captain) and Ebou Adams as the double pivot, John Swift, Adrian Segecic and Millenic Alli behind lone striker Jacob Brown.

Rangers took the lead in the seventh minute when Harvey Vale's pass was intercepted but the loose ball dropped to Smyth near the edge of the penalty area and his right-footed strike deflected off Pompey defender Connor Ogilvie and flew past Schmid into the net. The home crowd were in fine voice and QPR were on the front foot from the very first whistle.

Kolli doubled the advantage in the 24th minute with a superb long-range effort. Smyth found the Frenchman with a neat pass and Kolli took aim from 25 yards, driving a low right-footed shot into the bottom corner which gave Schmid no chance. It was a goal of real quality from the young forward.

Smyth then added a third in the 29th minute to put the game beyond any doubt. Vale played a precise through ball behind the Portsmouth defence and Smyth raced onto it before finishing coolly to make it 3-0. With their first three shots on target, QPR had scored three goals and the match was as good as over.

Portsmouth pulled one back in the 38th minute through John Swift, who struck a right-footed effort from 25 yards that went in off the post past Walsh. It was a fine goal from the former Reading man but merely a consolation in the context of the match. QPR led 3-1 at the interval.

Portsmouth made a change at the break with Colby Bishop replacing Segecic as Mousinho attempted to find a way back into the contest. Stephan made his first change in the 50th minute with Jonathan Varane replacing the booked Hayden in midfield.

Kolli killed the game as a contest in the 55th minute when he beat defender Shaughnessy on the right wing before finishing clinically for his second of the afternoon. The young striker's pace and directness had caused Portsmouth problems all afternoon and this was a fitting reward.

Portsmouth made a triple substitution in the 60th minute with Zak Swanson, Gustavo Caballero and Conor Chaplin all coming on as Mousinho made wholesale changes. QPR also freshened things up in the 65th minute with Jake Clarke-Salter replacing Mbengue and Poku coming on for Smyth, who left the field to a standing ovation after a man-of-the-match display.

The rout was completed in the closing stages. Kone converted from the penalty spot in the 86th minute after substitute Esquerdinha was fouled by Bishop in the area. A minute later Kone grabbed his second, racing onto Vale's through ball and finishing emphatically to make it 6-1.

The result ended QPR's three-match home losing run in emphatic style. Rangers manager Stephan was measured in his assessment afterwards, noting that "with our first three shots we scored three goals and that changed the game completely." For Portsmouth the defeat extended their winless run to six matches, five of them defeats, and left them just one point above the relegation zone in 21st place. The visiting supporters, over a thousand of whom had made the trip to west London, made their frustrations known as the goals flew in.

QPR now head into the international break in 16th place before resuming Championship action in April.

Timeline of Key Events

• 7' - Goal (QPR) - Smyth's strike from the edge of the area deflects off Ogilvie and beats Schmid. 1-0.
• 22' - Yellow Card - Mbengue booked for QPR.
• 24' - Goal (QPR) - Kolli drives a low right-footed shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner after Smyth's pass. 2-0.
• 29' - Goal (QPR) - Smyth races onto Vale's through ball and finishes coolly. 3-0.
• 32' - Yellow Cards - Hayden (QPR) and Adams (Portsmouth) both booked.
• 38' - Goal (Portsmouth) - Swift strikes from 25 yards and the ball flies in off the post. 3-1.
• HT - QPR 3-1 Portsmouth.
• 46' - Substitution (Portsmouth) - Bishop replaces Segecic.
• 50' - Substitution (QPR) - Varane replaces Hayden.
• 55' - Goal (QPR) - Kolli beats Shaughnessy on the right and finishes clinically. 4-1.
• 60' - Substitutions (Portsmouth) - Swanson, Caballero and Chaplin all come on.
• 65' - Substitutions (QPR) - Clarke-Salter replaces Mbengue; Poku replaces Smyth.
• 73' - Yellow Card - Norrington-Davies booked for QPR.
• 83' - Substitutions (QPR) - Esquerdinha replaces Norrington-Davies; Bennie replaces Kolli.
• 86' - Goal (QPR) - Kone converts from the penalty spot after Esquerdinha is fouled by Bishop. 5-1.
• 87' - Goal (QPR) - Kone races onto Vale's through ball and finishes emphatically. 6-1.
• 90+2' - Yellow Card - Devlin booked for Portsmouth.
• 90+4' - Yellow Card - Kone booked for QPR.
• FT - QPR 6-1 Portsmouth.

Author's Standout Players

• Paul Smyth (QPR) - The Northern Ireland international was electric throughout the first half, scoring twice and tormenting the Portsmouth defence with his pace and movement. His link-up play with Vale and Kolli was outstanding and he left the field to a deserved standing ovation.
• Rayan Kolli (QPR) - Two goals of real quality from the young French forward, including a superb 25-yard drive. His pace and directness caused Portsmouth problems all afternoon and he is developing into an exciting prospect at Loftus Road.
• Harvey Vale (QPR) - The creative heartbeat of QPR's display, Vale was instrumental in several goals with his precise passing and vision. His through balls for Smyth's second goal and Kone's late strike were perfectly weighted.