Leyton Orient break Stockport hearts on penalties in League One play-off

Yahoo

15-05-2025

Leyton Orient held their nerve in a penalty shoot-out to reach the League One play-off final after a gripping semi-final battle with Stockport County.
Jack Diamond and Ryan Rydel missed from 12 yards as Orient prevailed 4-1 on spot-kicks after an absorbing tie had ended 3-3 on aggregate following a breathless 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park.
Ollie O'Neill had fired Orient ahead after just three minutes but Stockport claimed a deserved equaliser with a superb flick from Isaac Olaofe 16 minutes from time.
Olaofe spurned a gilt-edged chance in the closing minutes of normal time and the Hatters suffered further anguish as Odin Bailey hit the post late in the second extra period.
They paid the price for those misses as Josh Keeley saved from Diamond and Rydel struck the post in the shoot-out.
After the controversy over the first of Charlie Kelman's two goals in the first leg, it will be a further bitter pill for Stockport, who dominated large spells of the game.
Yet while County's dream of a fourth promotion in seven seasons is over, Orient are now within a game of a returning to the second tier for the first time since 1982.
The drama began early on as Orient caught the home defence napping to grab the lead.
Ethan Galbraith lobbed a free-kick into the area and Irish winger O'Neill held off Owen Moxon to lash past Corey Addai from a tight angle.
Orient fans knocked over an advertising hoarding in the celebrations but the County supporters were hardly silenced as they attempted to roar their side back into the contest.
The Hatters responded well, with Ibou Touray shooting at Keeley and Olaofe heading across goal.
Captain Fraser Horsfall went closer as he headed against the post and put another chance wide after Olaofe had nodded over.
Kelman went close to doubling Orient's lead just before the interval with a header that bounced down off the underside of the crossbar.
He also had the first opening of the second half as he raced on to a through-ball but saw his attempted lob palmed over by Addai.
Driven forward by the energetic Ollie Norwood, Stockport battled on and were rewarded for their persistence when Olaofe flicked them level.
Keeley looked to have Diamond's initial strike covered but the keeper was wrong-footed by Olaofe's clever backheel.
Olaofe should have settled the contest in stoppage time but failed to hit the target after charging into the area.
Stockport had the better of the chances in extra time but Horsfall's glancing header was pushed away.
Keeley then produced a stunning save to keep out a low shot from Horsfall and Bailey thought he had snatched victory in the dying moments only for his effort to strike the post.
Orient punished the hosts with four perfect penalties and will face Charlton Athletic or Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley on May 25.
I can't believe it! It's a dream come true. Everyone wrote us off at the start but now look at us! We're in the final.
What a night for Orient who are one win away from playing in English football's second tier for the first time since 1982.
Stockport's players looked shattered. There was not much in the tie, but they missed the two glaring chances to win it through Olaofe and Bailey which could have avoided penalties.
Charlton or Wycombe await Orient at Wembley.
Another excellent penalty, sending Addai right and sweeping the ball left.
Orient are through to the League One play-off final.
The left-footer hits the inside of the left-hand post and the ball bounces practically across the line and out.
Galbraith can send Orient to Wembley...
Three nerveless penalties from Orient so far, they send Addai the wrong way again.
Rydel to take next for Stockport....
He was excellent after coming on as a sub but Diamond misses from 12 yards. It was tame, and Keeley guessed right diving to his right. Keeley is booked for some antics.
Abdulai to take Orient's third...
Much like Norwood, a short stutter before passing the ball into the bottom-right corner.
Diamond will take Stockport's second penalty...
He sends the goalkeeper the wrong way with a classy penalty.
Clare will take Orient's second penalty...
A powerful penalty into the left-hand side-netting. Clean strike from the defender and Orient are on the board.
Norwood is Stockport's first taker...
Interestingly, there are no Orient fans behind either goal because they are off to the side and Edgeley Park. A small disadvantage, perhaps. Orient are going to take the first one.
Tom James up first...
That Bailey chance was the game's last opportunity and off to penalties we go.
Bailey hits the post for Stockport! Dave Challinor just sits shaking his head on the bench. Diamond with a clever flick-on, and Bailey's first touch took him past the defender and got the ball out of his feet, but his effort with his left instep struck the outside of the post. Did everything right apart from send the shot six inches to the right.
Cooper tried to attack a cross at the near-post for Orient and Addai fumbled, but the ball bounced off Cooper and behind for a goal kick. He may have handled in any case. Orient enjoying a flurry of pressure now.
Orient with another promising attack but Stockport make a vital challenge on Galbraith. The game has really opened up in the last few minutes as legs tire. Four minutes from penalties.
Another big save from Keeley after Norwood's driven shot and there were appeals for a penalty.
Then Orient counter-attacked and had a four on two but Kelman's poked pass towards Markanday was overhit. What a 30 seconds.
Bailey with a header that drifts just wide for Stockport. The home team need Norwood to deliver as many crosses as possible in these final minutes, he has an extra level of class in his right foot.
At the other end, Horsfall let the ball bounce but wins the foul to get out of trouble.
Another Orient change: Donley off, Markanday on.
Clumsy and maybe slightly tired challenge from Beckles, with Andresson getting to the bouncing ball first near the left touchline.
Norwood delivers the cross and, yet again, Horsfall wins first contact with a glancing header but Keeley plucked the ball off the line. Great save from the Orient goalkeeper. That is the closest we have come to a goal in extra tim.
Norwood then takes a really clever corner, pulled back to the edge of the box but Moxon's shot was blocked.
Kelman has been outstanding up front of Orient and his pace threatens again. He had two chances to send Abdulai through on goal; the first was blocked with appeals for handball but Addai claimed a dangerous cross. Orient have to keep feeding Kelman.
Can either side find a goal in the second period of extra time?
Cooper replaces Edmonds-Green at the back for Orient, and Andresson replaces Olaofe up front for Stockport. Olaofe could have won the game at the end of normal time.
We are 15 minutes from penalties.
A couple of stewards almost catch a stud in the head with the players so close to the advertising hoardings. Moxon is down with a head injury and play stops. No big chances for either side in extra time.
Keeley does well to gather a loose ball in the Orient box when Diamon was lurking. Stockport continue to probe but James chests back to his goalkeeper. Orient defending the crosses well.
Diamond proving the outlet for Stockport again but his latest across is cleared. The Orient substitute Abdulai is booked for rash challenge right in front of the Stockport bench.
Then Orient break through Donley, and he feeds a dangerous pass towards Kelman but they do not get the break of the ball. The striker tried to flick the ball into Clare's path.
The last few minutes have been very extra time: no opportunities and very few sequences of more than three or four passes. The legs will be starting to burn for both sets of players.
Loose defensive header from Stockport which gifted Williams the chance to shoot from the edge of the area but his effort was straight at Addai. That was a decent chance.
Diamond proving a thorn in the side of Orient again, and his cross is turned behind for a corner. Appeals from Stockport for a penalty for a shirt-pull on Horsfall but nothing doing.
Orient get the first 15 minutes of extra time started.
We head to extra time. Probably a fair reflection of the two legs, although Orient were looking increasingly comfortable until the Stockport equaliser. But they could easily have lost it in the dying seconds with that Olaofe chance. He needs to pick himself up and realise he can still win this semi-final for Stockport.
An Orient free-kick is cleared after a foul on Donley and that is surely that.
That was the chance for Stockport to win it in normal time! Beckles gets himself in a mess dealing with a long ball and Olaofe pounces, working the yard for a shooting chance just inside the box but he tried to boot the leather off it. His attempt flew miles over the bar when he needed to pass the ball towards the near corner. Olaofe has his head in his hands.
Isaac Olaofe inches away from sending Stockport to Wembley! 😱 pic.twitter.com/NyxK7G485G
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 14, 2025
Another shooting chance for Norwood after great work from Olaofe but he scooped the shot well over the bar. Could he have played the extra pass?
Diamond has made a real difference down the left for Stockport, and he tees up Moxon for a strike from the edge of the area. Deflected, but straight into the arms of Orient goalkeeper Keeley.
Diamond with diligent defensive work to win a tackle on Kelman when it looked like the Orient striker was winding up for a shot. There will be four minutes of stoppage time to play. Time for one more chance?
Norwood fouls on halfway, and Orient push everyone forward to send it long from the goalkeeper Keeley. A chance to gain some territory but Randell Williams' cross from the right is aimless and runs through for a Stockport goal kick.
Olaofe looks a different player since his goal, and a spin down the right channel draws a foul from Clare. Free-kick for Stockport in a dangerous crossing position. Norwood to take, who has the best right foot of any player on the pitch. This time Keeley claims the second-phase cross with ease.
Collar tries to crash the box at pace for Stockport but he cannot get enough on his header. Bailey is about to come on for Stockport, and Collar is the player to make way. Can the home team muster up one final spell of pressure?
This game is anyone's now. Orient try to test Stockport from a long thrown but then drag a shot from the edge of the box wide of the post. We are at the stage where no player wants to make a mistake.
Just a minute or so after the goal, Edmonds-Green could have restored the Orient lead from a free-kick, but his effort from six yards out was straight at the goalkeeper when completely unmarked. Orient looking dangerous from a wide free-kick again.
There was more than a touch of good fortune about that, but the home fans do not care.
Scratch that, it was actually a brilliant, impudent finish from Olaofe. Diamond cut inside from the left and took on the shot, which was scuffed and going past the near post, but Olaofe backheeled it on target and beyond Keeley. Instinctive striker's play.
🗣️ "A PRICELESS goal!"Stockport County are right back in this tie! ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/RTWZ0DbynV
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 14, 2025
Norwood whips a cross in from a wide right position for Stockport, and Keeley needs two tries at holding onto it. Moments earlier, the crowd let their frustration be known at Olaofe who was caught offside.
Clare misjudged a header at the back for Orient but his mate Edmonds-Green got him out of bother with the clearance. Then Tom James chests the ball back to his goalkeeper. Apart from those first-half corners, Orient have defended their penalty box ever so well.
Orient's turn to make a change: their goalscorer O'Neill is coming off, replaced by Randell Williams. Donley is then penalised for handball. Williams offers Orient an outlet straight away, and his running earns them a throw-in near the corner flag.
Donley tried to wind up for a shot from distance, but his effort is dragged behind for a goal kick.
Currie then hobbles back seconds after going down injured to defend well, but that is his race run. This was his first start back after injury but fatigue has caught up with him, but Currie receives a standing ovation from the Orient fans. James has replaced him at left wing-back.
Currie defends ever so well for Orient against Fevrier, but he stretches out his calves with what looks the early signs of cramp. Really brave defending from Edmonds-Green to head the ball off his own six-yard line, and he took a whack from Olaofe for his troubles. Stockport making another change: Diamond replaces Fevrier.
Stockport are trying to build up a head of steam but are not really getting anywhere at the moment. Orient are taking their time over every restart. Donley has not had enough touches of the ball from an Orient perspective in the second half.
Beckles is the latest player shown a yellow for Orient, dragging down Olaofe.
Nervous moments again for Stockport at the back as a low cross trickles across the six-yard box and the goalkeeper Addai needs two attempts to gather. Then Orient midfielder Jordan Brown is shown a yellow card for a foul on halfway.
Well this is interesting... Orient goalkeeper Keeley has picked the ball up after defender Beckles is judged to have passed the ball back to him! It will be an indirect free-kick for Stockport, around level with the penalty spot, slightly to the right. It was not the most obvious pass you will see, but the goalkeeper should not have taken a chance.
Stockport lay the ball off for Fevrier to strike but his shot is well blocked. Keeley will be a relieved man.
Kelman threatening again, showing why he was the top goalscorer in League One. The Orient striker spins into the right channel and forced Addai into an acrobatic save with a clever effort from a tight angle. One more goal would put Orient fully in control.
Galbraith has been one of Orient's most impressive players across both legs and he defends well against Moxon. You fancy there might be quite a lot of defending for the away team to do in the second half.
Orient kick-off in the second half.
Knoyle and Rydel are coming on for the home team, which suggests Challinor might be switching to a back four. Boos from the home fans as Orient's players emerge from the tunnel for the second half.
Hills and Touray are the players replaced for Stockport. Touray was on a yellow.
With the exception of their (non-existent) marking of the Stockport centre-back Horsfall at corners, this has been the ideal away performance from Leyton Orient. Wellens will be delighted with their efforts, and they could easily have a two-goal lead. Fearsome intensity to the game, can both teams sustain it after half-time?
Norwood's attempt was on target but lacking power and Keeley gathers. Orient should be through the first half unscathed now.
Agyei goes for the spectacular from 25 yards but his attempted curler for Orient is high, wide and handsome.
In the dying seconds of the half, Stockport have now won a free-kick near the edge of the box. Collar bought that really, flopping himself to the floor in front of Clare.
A chance for Norwood to take with his right foot.
Kelman and Pye having a physical battle. There will be four minutes of added time to play.
Kelman is then flagged offside after Donley won a second ball. Stockport have grown into the half but Orient carry a threat whenever they cross halfway. Keeley wanted his defence to let Fevrier's low cross run through to him, but they clear their lines. Some boos from the Stockport fans as Galbraith takes his time over a throw-in.
How has that not gone in for Orient?! From a corner that stemmed for the free-kick won by Kelman, the Orient striker hit the bar with a free header from six yards out but the ball bounced down and off the line. The attempt actually came off Kelman's shoulder; he should have scored.
Jack Currie with a clean and important tackle for Orient as Fevrier tried to chop and dribble his way inside for Stockport. The home fans do not feel they are getting enough of the decisions. This time, Kelman does well to get his foot to a loose ball first and win Orient a free-kick in a wide left crossing position.
A set-piece looks Stockport's best route to an equaliser at the moment. This time Horsfall peels away to the back post to head the ball back across goal but Olaofe could not keep his glancing header at goal below the crossbar.
Then Norwood tries an outrageous half-volley with his right foot from the corner of the box but it deflects wide.
From the corner, Horsfall wins first contact again but glances his header wide. The Stockport defender has now won three headers from corners in the Orient box.
Touray with a slightly loose touch and Donley pounces to win a free-kick. The Stockport defender, on a yellow card, needs to be wary of small errors like that. Orient try a carbon copy of the first goal from the free-kick, clipping the ball almost straight down the line.
Then Collar is away on the break for Stockport but Currie and Brown sprint back to put him under pressure and halt the danger. Collar could perhaps have rolled the ball to his right for Fevrier.
The referee allows Stockport to play the advantage but Clare reads an attempted one-two to clear and snuff out the dangers. Stockport are seeing more of the ball now but Orient continue to look solid in their shape.
Clare is back on his feet a fit to continue which is good news for Orient fans. Stockport are enjoying more territory now, and Touray launches a long throw into the box. There was a speculative appeal for a handball penalty from the fans behind the goal but nothing doing.
Touray is then shown a yellow card for bringing down Edmonds-Green on the breakaway.
Moxon now fortunate to escape without a yellow card or possibly worse for raking his studs down the achilles of Clare. The referee did not have a great view and of course there is no VAR. Both sets of players go across to receive some instructions while Clare receives treatment. Wellens is on the radio down to the Orient bench from the stands.
Both teams fully committed in the challenges, but Donley catches Hills late with a sliding tackle and the Orient midfielder is shown a yellow card. Norwood tries to whip a cross from Hills to attack at the back post but there just too much on it.
Stockport go close to an equaliser with the centre-back Horsfall rising highest from a corner and planting a header off the post. Horsfall scored in the first leg and was too much of an aerial threat for the Orient defence to handle again.
The Stockport fans are unhappy, claiming that Galbraith should have been penalised for a high foot on Olaofe. The Orient man was trying to hook the ball down the line but Olaofe got there first and he did catch him. Fevrier is trying to get Stockport going down their right.
Orient looking slick again with Clare winning a free-kick from Hills after another surge down the left. The away team have completed 13 final third passes to Stockport's one so far, which tells you the story of the game. Addai claims the free-kick. The goalkeeper's clearance then hits Clare in the back of the head, and play stops while the Orient player is dazed on the turf. He is fit to carry on.
Orient flowing forward again but Kelman is flagged offside. Ironic cheers from the Stockport fans after last week's stinker of a decision. The away fans goad them with 'offside again, olé, olé!'
Stockport go close to getting on a knockdown in the Orient box, before the away team spring the counter again. This has been wide open so far. Donley is enjoying the space he is finding for Orient.
Touray had a strike on target from distance as Stockport chased an immediate response, but now Orient have a corner. They are finding it quite easy to get into the final third so far. Donley takes it with his trusty left foot, cleared, but Donley gets the chance to cross again before Currie is penalised for a foul.
One of three players to return to the starting XI tonight and Wellens' decision has paid dividends. Stockport completely fell asleep from the set-piece which was clipped down the side of a slack defensive line. It was well-weighted for the run of O'Neill, and he controlled his finish on the bounce beyond Addai. Perfect start for Orient.
DREAM start for Orient! ⚡Ollie O'Neill scores inside three minutes! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/lkx046QGNu
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 14, 2025
Barely a second for either side to breathe, but Orient have settled the better in possession in the very early stages. Stockport are looking to be direct from their goalkeeper Addai. Pye commits a foul near halfway, Orient free-kick.
The home team get the second leg of this play-off semi-final under way.
Blue and white flags awash the stand behind the goal. Orient fans forming a pocket of red and white in the far corner.
They finished quite a few points in front but over the last 30 games we have probably got more. They are a good club, a club on the up the last few years, a lot like us. Two good sets of players on the pitch.
I think we need to press better [than we did in the first leg] and deal with their long balls. Norwood (Oliver Norwood, ex-Sheffield United] has played at a higher level so we need to stop him playing.
Difficult to enjoy it, hopefully we get to that point. You have to embrace it and get the players to embrace it. Would we swap? Of course we wouldn't, there are a number of teams whose seasons have finished who would love to have this game tonight.
Leyton Orient have a 100 per cent record in shoot-outs, against Colchester United, Boreham Wood and Derby County, this season.
'We've had penalty shootouts three times this year and we've not practised. I don't think you can replicate the pressure. You can't replicate the mindset that the players go through,' Wellens said.
Your O's! ❤️Here's how we line up for tonight's play-off semi-final second leg with Stockport County 🔢Let's go, lads! 💪#LOFC #OneOrient pic.twitter.com/oKrtOLm61Y
— Leyton Orient FC (@leytonorientfc) May 14, 2025
📋 An unchanged County lineup to face Leyton Orient in the second leg 🔵⚪️Ben Hinchliffe also returns to the bench. 🙌#StockportCounty #PaintItBlue pic.twitter.com/JOteopa34k
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 14, 2025
🏠 Arrivals at Edgeley Park#StockportCounty pic.twitter.com/NBQ46rJXyQ
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 14, 2025
They won 4-1 in their away fixture at Stockport in the regulation season, with Ethan Galbraith scoring twice. That was back in way back in September, though.
Leyton Orient have broken the deadlock thanks to Charlie Kelman's 26th goal this season ⚽️🔴 pic.twitter.com/PzvylKKBxY
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 10, 2025
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Stockport County have not played in English football's second tier since 2002. Leyton Orient have not done so since 1982. This evening, both clubs have the opportunity to put themselves one Wembley victory from ending that wait.
There is little to separate them after a 2-2 draw in east London, though Stockport and their manager Dave Challinor claimed a moral victory after an 'absolute shocker' of a call saw an offside Orient opener stand.
Stockport finished the regular season three places above and nine points in front of Orient, but both teams scored 72 goals in 46 games. Orient have the division's top goalscorer in Charlie Kelman, who finished the season with 21 which was two clear of Birmingham City's big-money purchase Jay Stansfield.
Orient though, finished the season the stronger which is something manager Richie Wellens is hoping his players can take confidence from.
'We absolutely deserve it [to be in the play-offs],' Wellens told BBC Radio London.
'In the last 30 games of the League One season we've picked up 63 points. Only Charlton have matched us and only Birmingham are above us, so this has not been a one or two-month thing, this has been over a long period of time – 30 games is 70 per cent of the season.
'The players have been absolutely fantastic. The fact we've done it without spending huge amounts of money, and developing young players as well as winning, the club can take huge amounts of satisfaction from that.'
Stockport are going to back-to-back promotions after sliding down the leagues to as low as the National League North in 2013. They are unbeaten in 10 home matches at Edgeley Park, which makes them slight favourites to progress from this position.
The winners of tonight's tie will play Wycombe Wanderers or Charlton Athletic in the final.
Full team news on the way shortly.