Paul Smyth, Rayan Kolli, and Richard Kone all scored twice.
By Press Association Sport Staff on March 21, 2026 at 5:08pm GMT.
Paul Smyth, Rayan Kolli, and Richard Kone each scored twice as QPR defeated relegation-threatened Portsmouth 6-1 at Loftus Road.
Rangers were three goals up before half an hour, with Smyth putting them ahead before scoring again after Kolli’s opening goal.
John Swift gave Pompey hope with a goal before the break, but Kolli scored twice in the second half, and Kone added a late brace, one of which was a penalty.
The south coast club is now without a win in six matches, including five defeats, and is only one place and one point above the relegation zone.
Rangers, who had lost three consecutive home games, dominated from the opening and took the lead after seven minutes.
Harvey Vale’s attempt to slip Kolli in on goal was cut out by Regan Poole, but the loose ball dropped to Smyth, whose strike from near the edge of the penalty area was helped in by a deflection off Pompey defender Connor Ogilvie.
On 24 minutes, Kolli increased Rangers’ advantage by receiving Smyth’s pass and shooting a low right-footed strike past goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid from 25 yards.
Five minutes later, Vale, who was named to the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off squad this week after switching allegiance from England, scored again, this time delivering a brilliant pass in behind the Portsmouth defence to Smyth, who tucked past Schmid.
The visiting fans were enraged, with chants of “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” echoing from the away end as John Mousinho’s side struggled to put together a few passes.
However, seven minutes before halftime, Swift, who had given the ball away in the build-up to the initial goal, scored with a right-footed drive from 25 yards that deflected off a post.
Soon after, QPR goalkeeper Joe Walsh anxiously fumbled Terry Devlin’s effort over the bar, and early in the second half, an unmarked Jacob Brown sidefooted over after being set up by Ogilvie’s cross from the left.
Portsmouth appeared to be getting back into the game, but Kolli’s 55th-minute goal effectively clinched Rangers’ victory.
The youthful striker outpaced Conor Shaughnessy on the right, sprinted towards goal, and fired a crisp finish into the far corner of the net.
Kone made it 4-1 with an 86th-minute penalty after Colby Bishop tripped Esquerdinha on the left side of the area.
Just over a minute later, the striker scored again, rushing onto Vale’s through ball and smashing home.
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