Cardiff City edged out Leyton Orient in a seven-goal thriller that had fans on the edge of their seats. The Bluebirds twice surrendered the lead before mounting a dramatic comeback to snatch all three points.
The match began with both sides showing attacking intent. Cardiff’s Isaak Davies was lively on the right, creating early chances. The breakthrough came in the 20th minute when Chris Willock lofted a clever ball over the top to Callum Robinson, who coolly slotted past the keeper to make it 1-0.
Leyton Orient responded swiftly. Aaron Connolly capitalized on a through ball from Dom Ballard, finishing clinically in the 29th minute to level the score at 1-1. Despite chances at both ends, including a crucial save by Cardiff’s Nathan Trott, the teams went into halftime level.
The second half exploded into life. In the 52nd minute, Dylan Lawlor surged from the halfway line, shrugged off defenders, and fired into the bottom corner to restore Cardiff’s lead at 2-1.
But Orient weren’t done. Just two minutes later, Idris El Mizouni pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box to equalize again. Then, in the 61st minute, Dom Ballard curled a stunning shot into the top corner to put the visitors ahead 3-2.
Cardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy responded with a triple substitution, which paid off almost immediately. In the 69th minute, Rubin Colwill delivered a pinpoint cross that substitute Yousef Salech headed home to make it 3-3.
Just two minutes later, Omari Kellyman and Ronan Kpakio combined down the right, with Kpakio’s low cross finding Robinson, who bagged his second of the game to seal the 4-3 win.
Despite Leyton Orient’s late push, Cardiff held firm to secure a vital win, ending a run of two home defeats and climbing to third in League One, just two points behind leaders Stevenage.
Cardiff City: Trott, Kpakio, Osho, Lawlor, Bagan, Wintle (Turnbull 65’), J. Colwill (Salech 65’), R. Colwill ©, Davies (Kellyman 64’), Willock, Robinson (Fish 87’). Subs not used: Turner, Chambers, Tankiewicz.
Leyton Orient: Simkin, Adaramola (Mitchell 76’) Happe, El Mizouni, Connolly, Bakinson (Jaiyesimi 85’), Edmonds-Green (Abdulai 76’), Beckles ©, Wellens (Moorhouse 85’), Clare, Ballard (Koroma 80’). Subs not used: Cahill, Simpson.
