QPR beat Championship rivals Luton 4-1 on penalties to reach the third round of the Carabao Cup following a tough encounter at Loftus Road.

After the game ended level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, Kenneth Paal stepped up to score the winning penalty as Rangers won the shootout, converting all their spot-kicks.

Summer signing Hevertton Santos, making his full debut for QPR, put them ahead after 11 minutes but Luton equalised five minutes later with a thumping volley from Zack Nelson – the 19-year-old’s first senior goal.

The opener came after Zan Celar combined nicely with Elijah Dixon-Bonner, whose shot was parried by goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski straight to Santos and the Brazilian finished from close range.

Luton hit back in emphatic fashion. The hosts were unable to properly clear Alfie Doughty’s left-wing corner and the ball dropped near the right-hand edge of the penalty area to Nelson, who fired a stunning right-footed strike into the far corner of the net.

QPR keeper Joe Walsh produced a superb save from Carlton Morris’ downward header early in the second half and crucially saved Cauley Woodrow’s first Luton penalty in the shoot-out.

Celar, Karamoko Dembele and Clarke-Salter scored for Rangers, but Doughty was the only Hatters player to put away their penalty.

And after Tahith Chong hit the crossbar, Paal slotted home to take the R’s through.