Luton Town are out of the Carabao Cup after defeat on penalties by QPR after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

No winner was forthcoming in 90 minutes for either side, which saw both goals scored in the first half after Luton’s Zack Nelson cancelled out an opener scored by QPR’s Hevertton Santos.

But in the shoot-out, Luton duo Cauley Woodrow and Tahith Chong failed to score their kicks, allowing their Championship rivals and upcoming league opponents to progress to Round Three.

Luton had been given a bye in the First Round of the competition and named a strong side for the trip to West London as they chased a first win of the new season.

But Rob Edwards’ team fell behind after 11 minutes, as Brazilian full-back Santos scored the rebound after Thomas Kaminski could only parry an effort by Elijah Dixon-Bonner.

Luton weren’t behind for long, however. Five minutes later, Nelson scored a spectacular equaliser as he planted a volley from a flicked-on corner into the back of the QPR net to score his first goal for the club.

The best chance in the remainder of the first half saw a strike by Elijah Adebayo trickle just wide.

The visitors pushed for a goal in the second half, with Joe Walsh in the QPR goal denying Carlton Morris’ header, before Kaminski made a double save to deny QPR sub Alfie Lloyd.

Walsh would deny Chong and Adebayo failed to convert the rebound as Luton tried to probe their way to a winner, while Woodrow saw a free-kick flash just off target.

QPR would also see an effort blocked at the end of the 90, but with no winner in regular time, the game would go straight to penalties.

It was there when the decisive moments happened, as Woodrow saw Luton’s first penalty denied by Walsh before the Hatters’ third penalty saw Chong strike the bar.

QPR scored all four of their penalties, duly taking a place in the next round.

Luton will renew hostilities with QPR on Friday night, as the Hatters welcome the Londoners to Kenilworth Road in their next league outing.