FanSided World Football
·14 gennaio 2025
FanSided World Football
·14 gennaio 2025
On Tuesday evening, there was FA Cup action for Josh Keeley, Jamie Donley, and their Leyton Orient side - as they hosted Championship side Derby County, in the rearranged third round tie that was postponed last weekend due to the weather.
Even in the Cup, no rotation - both Keeley and Donley were named in the starting XI as usual by manager Richie Wellens. It would be a bright start for the O's - taking the lead after just 20 minutes, but their visitors would strike back a mere four minutes later, to ensure the game was tied again.
Those two goals in a four minute period would be the only goals of the 90 minutes, and the game headed to extra time. In turn, they ended up being the only goals of the two hours of play, and a penalty shootout was to be completed.
In all three of Orient's FA Cup games this season, none have been decided in 90 minutes - thanks in no small part to Keeley's goal against Oldham Athletic. That game was decided in extra-time, whilst their first and third round ties went all the way to a shootout. The excellent football book "Extra Time Beckons, Penalties Loom" seems very apparent for Wellens' side.
So, spot kicks it was. Derby went first, and scored. Then, Donley stepped up to take first - and also scored. The sides would then trade a further four dispatched penalties each, leading us to sudden death. There, Keeley would keep out Callum Elder's penalty for the visitors, meaning all Orient had to do was score, to set up a tie with Manchester City in the fourth round.
That they did. Zech Obiero stepped up for the O's, making it six perfect penalties in a row to make sure that the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and all the rest of them will be coming to town in a few weeks time.
Mentioned it before, but to think - had that late free-kick against Oldham been headed wide by Keeley, none of this would have ever been possible. It has been an incredible collective effort from everyone, but the on loan Spurs man really is the MVP of this Orient cup run.
In the first round, he was the shootout hero against Boreham Wood, so long ago that he had only been in the team for two or three games. Then, the hero against Oldham with that goal. Now, he has been the shootout hero for the second time in three rounds. All of this whilst being incredible in League One too.
Just incredible. Orient will host Pep Guardiola's Manchester City between the 7th-10th of February. Hopefully it will not clash with Spurs' tie against Aston Villa, so as many people as possible can tune in - or even go and watch themselves.