QPR could practically taste Championship safety as Sheffield Wednesday arrived at Loftus Road - a win may not have guaranteed survival mathematically, but would have put it in touching distance. However, the Yorkshire strugglers picked up a major coup as they finished 2-0 victors.
It took just minutes for the relegation battle to spark into life with an end-to-open opening five minutes showcasing two sides with a lot still to play for this season, Sinclair Armstrong looking particularly lively on his return to the starting XI.
An ever-willing runner, the Irishman looked hungry to impress against the Owls as he sprinted after lobbed balls from Ilias Chair and Sam Field, but was too often isolated on the break for the Rs.
It was Sheffield Wednesday who went the closest in the opening 25 minutes as Ian Poveda latched onto a long ball and caused problems for Kenneth Paal. His cross looped up in the wind and over Asmir Begovic but Josh Windass somehow couldn't bundle the ball over the line.
Former Manchester City man Poveda had looked a danger but limped off before 30 minutes were on the clock to be replaced by Djeidi Gassama - the Frenchman had a golden opportunity in seconds as he burst past Jake Clarke-Salter but fired wide.
QPR struggled to take hold of the game as the fixture meandered to half-time, perhaps lucky that the Yorkshire outfit lacked the quality to make their early dominance count as frustrations grew around Loftus Road.
It was more of the same after the break as a couple of decent Armstrong runs petered out to nothing and Chair worked some good space before firing well over the bar. The Owls continued to control the ball with any moments of QPR promise short-lived.
Cifuentes' side got what they had been asking for with 59 minutes on the clock. Gassama easily beat Sam Field in the home side's penalty box before a flailing Isaac Hayden hit the sub's body with the ball rolling into the QPR net.
QPR almost replied instantly as Andersen found space in the Sheffield Wednesday box and punted a shot goalwards. The ball bounced off the crossbar and onto the line as referee Graham Scott checked his watch to confirm it hadn't registered.
The QPR head coach looked to change things up as Paul Smyth, Lyndon Dykes and Morgan Fox came on with 20 minutes to play, the Rs shifting to a back three to gain control in the centre of the park. Those changes did invigorate the side as the hosts finally gained some control in midfield but little more than half chances came their way.
The relegation battle was put to bed with seconds left on the clock as Anthony Musaba tucked home on the break. Here's how the QPR players rated on Saturday afternoon.
1. Asmir Begovic - 5
Can blame Hayden for the Owls' opener but wasn't hugely convincing himself. Lucky not to concede as Windass missed a sitter in the first half - the shot-stopper was left sprawling at the relatively simple cross.
2. Kenneth Paal - 5
Pretty lively today but was caused problems by Ian Poveda before the Owls' man was substituted. Replaced by Fox with 20 minutes to go as the Rs tried to get a hold of the game.
3. Jake Clarke-Salter - 6
Sheffield Wednesday dominated possession but the QPR centre backs were pretty resolute when batting away half chances.
4. Steve Cook - 7
Probably QPR's best player today. Didn't really put a foot wrong and was a commanding presence at the back.