Charlton Stun Leyton Orient with Two Late Goals in Thrilling London Derby!
- Oakley Bromfield
- Mar 1
- 5 min read
Charlton stunned Leyton Orient in an entertaining London derby, scoring twice in stoppage time. Orient had taken the lead through a stunning 25-yard strike from Jordan Brown, but Charlton made a dramatic late comeback. Two goals in five minutes – both from corners – were assisted by Alex Gilbert and scored by MacAuley Gillesphey and Kayne Ramsay.
Saturday 1st March 2025
Gaughan Group Stadium
Sky Bet League One
Team News:
The O’s came into this London derby following a 2-0 defeat at St. Andrew’s against league leaders Birmingham on Wednesday night. Richie Wellens made two changes to his side: Sonny Perkins replaced Dan Agyei, and Jayden Sweeney came in for the suspended Jack Currie. Sean Clare was named back in the squad, as a substitute.
On the other hand, the Addicks had a full week’s rest after their dominant 3-0 victory at home against Exeter City last weekend. Nathan Jones named an unchanged starting eleven for his trip to Brisbane Road.
Both teams went into the game level on points and firmly in the race for the play-off places, with Charlton having a game in hand over Orient.
The first ten minutes were scrappy, demonstrating the closeness between both sides as they stayed solid in their defensive shape to avoid conceding first.
Charlton fans brought their voices (along with a loud drum), but this was partially silenced when Orient had the chance to take the lead. In the 12th minute, Jordan Brown leapt highest at the front post from a corner, only to head the ball high and wide.
Both sides had quality up front. QPR loanee Charlie Kelman, who had netted 15 goals (11 goals in the league), was a key threat for Orient, while Charlton’s Matty Gooden, on loan from Coventry, had scored 13 goals (10 in the league) for his side.
Just after the half-hour mark, Blackburn Rovers loanee Dilan Markanday skilfully worked his way into the Charlton box and beat the defender for a chance on goal. However, his shot took a slight deflection, forcing Will Mannion into a swift save at his near post.
The first real chance of a goal came from Charlton in the 38th minute. A lofted ball into the Orient box was looped over Josh Keeley’s head, off Matty Gooden’s header, and onto the crossbar. Luke Berry followed up for what seemed like an easy tap-in but ended up placing it straight into the legs of the Orient goalkeeper. Berry had another bite of the cherry, but his effort was ruled out for a foul by the officials.
HT: Leyton Orient 0-0 Charlton Athletic
The hosts came out flying after the break, controlling most of the possession, winning fouls in Charlton’s half and earning corners.
GOAL – Jordan Brown, take a bow! What a hit. The midfielder received the ball from about 25 yards after a volley from Darren Pratley struck Koroy Anderson on the back. Brown took one touch out of his feet, then sweetly struck it on the half-volley, sending it into the top left corner of Mannion’s goal.
A few minutes after Orient’s opener, Kelman controlled the ball well in the box, shifted it onto his strong right foot, and unleashed an on-target attempt, which was well stopped by Mannion, diving low to his left.
After the goal, Charlton found themselves slightly on the back foot. The O’s seemed to have gained confidence and took a foothold in the game.
Charlton were close on getting an equaliser at the hour mark. Karoy Anderson found a free channel to run into, carrying the ball down the left and into the Orient box. He took a shot across the keeper, but the ball took a deflection and trickled out for a corner.
Following the corner, Orient quickly moved the ball down the other end as Ethan Galbraith showcased his dribbling ability. He slotted a pass through to dangerman Kelman. The striker had two options: slot it across the box for a teammate to tap home or go across the keeper for a goal himself. He chose the latter but blazed the ball over the bar.
Charlton, desperate for an equaliser, turned to the bench in the 66th minute. Luke Berry, Karoy Anderson and Josh Edwards made way for Greg Docherty, Miles Leaburn and Alex Gilbert.
CONTROVERSY – Charlton thought they had scored! The away side’s players, coaches and fans all believed they had found the equaliser. In the 72nd minute, Docherty had a massive chance to head the ball into the goal, only for keeper Keeley to scramble across his line and produce a fine save. Godden followed up to tap the ball home, but the O’s keeper somehow kept it from crossing the line.
The referee blew his whistle and awarded a free-kick, whilst the Charlton faithful celebrated, but it remained 1-0.
With around a quarter of an hour left, both sides made a change. Orient’s first substitution was Sonny Perkins off for Dan Agyei, whilst Charlton’s fourth sub saw striker Chuks Aneke replace midfielder Connor Coventry.
A few minutes later, Orient made their second change of the afternoon. Azeem Abdulai, loanee from Swansea replaced Dilan Markanday.
With ten minutes left plus stoppage time, Orient brought on the reliable Sean Clare, formerly of Charlton, for Tottenham loanee Jamie Donley. Clare played 76 times for the Addicks between 2021-2023 and scored twice.
Charlton substitute Alex Gilbert had a chance just outside the box in the 87th minute but snatched at the opportunity, slicing his shot over the bar and into the stands.
Orient pushed to double their lead, and paceman Agyei carried the ball down the right wing, delivering an accurate cross along the six-yard box for Brandon Cooper. However, the O’s defender was put off Kayne Ramsay’s good defending.
GOAL – Charlton get the equaliser in stoppage time! As six minutes of stoppage time was announced, Charlton won themselves a corner after a blocked cross. The ball was whipped in by substitute Gilbert, and Keeley came to claim it, but was beaten by MacAulay Gillesphey, who headed it in. The Orient keeper was certain he had been fouled and appealed to the officials, but his plea was waved away. The Charlton bench erupted in celebration as the players ran towards the other end to celebrate with their travelling fans.
1-1.
With minutes to go, the game became stretched, with neither side wanting to settle for a point. A failed attack from Orient left them vulnerable and open at the back, and Charlton countered to win a late corner.
GOAL – Charlton have won it at the very end! Jubilation for the Addicks as the resulting corner was headed into the back of the net by Ramsay. It was nearly an exact copy of Charlton’s first goal. Another in-swinging corner from Gilbert onto the head of Ramsay and the ball hit the back of the net at the back post. There were minor claims of a foul on Keeley again and replays show it might just have been.
Absolute heartache for Leyton Orient as two stoppage-time goals from their opponents had claimed victory and the all-important three points.
Keeley looked devastated after conceding twice from corners in the space of five minutes, shortly after the announcer had stated he won the Man of the Match award.
Charlton fans burst into sheer ecstasy in the away end, and rightly so, as their side snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in this vital London derby.
Charlton’s win pushes them into 6th place, above Orient and into the play-off positions. Leyton Orient, however, fall into 8th, below Bolton and level on points with Reading, who both have a game in hand.
The race for the play-offs have certainly bunched up now, with just 12 points separating Wrexham in 3rd and Barnsley in 10th.
FT: Leyton Orient 1-2 Charlton Athletic
Man of the Match: Josh Keeley
Attendance: 8163
Comments