Saturday, 16 August 2025 | Vicarage Road (Attendance: 19,517)
Watford secured their first home win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over Queens Park Rangers, thanks to a first-half brace from summer signing Luca Kjerrumgaard. QPR rallied late through Kieran Morgan’s stoppage-time header, but the Hornets held firm despite a dramatic red card in added time.
First Half
Watford started the brighter of the two, soaking up early pressure before taking control through quick transitions. In the 18th minute, Luca Kjerrumgaard met Amadou Mbengue’s flick-on to fire low past Joe Walsh for 1-0. Just four minutes later, the Dane rose highest to head home Edo Kayembe’s cross and double the lead. QPR pulled one back on the stroke of half-time when Kieran Morgan glanced in from close range, setting up a tense second period.
Second Half
Chasing the game, QPR dominated possession but struggled to carve out clear openings against a well-organised Watford backline. Substitute Karamoko Dembele injected energy for the visitors, but Egil Selvik stood firm in goal, making a sharp low stop from a 20-yard drive. The contest boiled over in the 90th minute when Imran Louza was shown a straight red for a high challenge, yet Watford saw the match out to claim all three points.
Key Events
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 18′ | Goal! Luca Kjerrumgaard (Watford) – 1-0 |
| 22′ | Goal! Luca Kjerrumgaard (Watford) – 2-0 |
| 45+1′ | Goal! Kieran Morgan (QPR) – 2-1 |
| 65′ | Yellow Card: Edo Kayembe (Watford) |
| 78′ | Yellow Card: Karamoko Dembele (QPR) |
| 90+3′ | Red Card: Imran Louza (Watford) |
Standout Performers
- Luca Kjerrumgaard: A perfect home debut, his aerial prowess and clinical finishing decided the contest.
- Egil Selvik: Commanded his area with confidence, pulling off a vital save to thwart the QPR fightback.
- James Abankwah: Marshalled the defence brilliantly, cutting out crosses and organizing the backline under sustained pressure.
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Watford | QPR |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 46% | 54% |
| Win Probability (pre-match) | 46.7% | 25.2% |
| Championship Record (W–D–L, pts) | 1–0–1 (3) | 0–1–1 (1) |
With this victory, Watford climb to mid-table confidence ahead of their next trip to Huddersfield, while QPR will rue missed chances as they return to Loftus Road in search of their first win of the campaign.
