Leyton Orient booked their place in the League One play-off final with a 4-1 penalty shootout win over Stockport, after the play-off semi-final ended 3-3 on aggregate.
Isaac Olaofe’s exquisite flick had cancelled out Ollie O’Neill’s opener at Edgeley Park and sent the game to extra time.
But after Jack Diamond’s penalty was saved by Orient goalkeeper Jack Keeley, and Ryan Rydel’s effort came back off the inside of the left-hand post, Ethan Galbraith stayed composed to spark jubilation in the away end.
Orient will face the winner of Thursday night’s other second leg between Charlton and Wycombe at Wembley on Sunday May 25, live on Sky Sports Football.
Home tickets for the crunch second leg sold out within 10 minutes of going on sale on May 9 – but within just three minutes of kick-off, Edgeley Park was stunned.
The hosts, momentarily, switched off, allowing Galbraith to play a clever free-kick down the right to O’Neill, who squeezed a first-time volley past Corey Addai at the near post.
Leyton Orient’s Oliver O’Neill scored within three minutes
Stockport looked to utilise their aerial threat to find the equaliser, but Fraser Horsfall’s luck, in particular, seemed to be out. The captain headed onto the bar, cushioned the ball for Olaofe, who headed over, then sent another header past the left-hand post, which he was visibly frustrated by.
Orient almost established a two-goal lead on the night, and on aggregate, just before the break, as Charlie Kelman met a cross from the left and steered the ball onto the underside of the crossbar with his shoulder.
Stockport were almost gifted a chance back into the game within five minutes of the restart, when goalkeeper Keeley picked up a back pass, but Jayden Fevrier’s delivery was blocked – and the hosts’ momentum dipped notably after that.
Isaac Olaofe’s audacious flick levelled for Stockport
They levelled with 16 minutes of the 90 to play, when Olaofe turned Jack Diamond’s ball into his feet into the back of the net by way of exquisite flick – and should have won it, when the striker was sent clear through on goal, but hit his shot with far too much power and missed the target.
In the 93rd minute, Olaofe missed a glorious chance
Extra time passed without incident, save for the final seconds of the second 15-minute period, when Odin Bailey was presented with a glorious chance to win it for Stockport, which cannoned off the outside of the outside of the post.
It seemed Stockport’s luck was out, which was confirmed in the shootout, extinguishing chances of back-to-back promotions and handing Orient a chance to return to the second tier for the first time since the 1992/93 campaign.
The managers
Stockport’s Dave Challinor:
To follow…
Leyton Orient’s Richie Wellens:
To follow…
This news was originally published on this post .
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