Leyton Orient celebrates a thrilling FA Cup win over Derby, setting up a clash with Manchester City in the next round
London: Richie Wellens was buzzing after Leyton Orient’s nail-biting win over Derby in the FA Cup. He said, “the magic of the FA Cup is alive” after they clinched victory in a penalty shootout.
Charlie Kelman kicked things off by scoring for Orient in the first half, but Derby’s Dajaune Brown equalized just four minutes later. It was a tense match that went to extra time and then penalties, with Zech Obiero scoring the final penalty to seal a 6-5 win.
Wellens praised his players for their effort, especially with some returning from illness. He felt they played well for the first 60 minutes but needed to improve their passing. He also noted that Derby had some quick players who could threaten on the counter-attack.
He expressed excitement about facing Manchester City next, saying it’s a great opportunity for the club. Wellens added that the fans were really into the game, and it felt like a special night for everyone involved.
On the other side, Derby’s boss Paul Warne was pretty honest about his team’s performance. He felt they didn’t do enough to win and that they needed to create more chances. He mentioned that they had some good moments but just couldn’t get past Orient’s defense.
Warne also reflected on how playing against Manchester City would have been a fantastic experience for his players, especially the newcomers. Unfortunately, they just couldn’t turn their motivation into a solid performance on the pitch.
