Leyton Orient hold their nerve in shoot-out to seal tie against Manchester City
Leyton Orient booked a home clash with Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round by beating Derby 6-5 on penalties after the teams had drawn 1-1 after extra-time at Brisbane Road.
Both teams converted their first five penalties before substitute Zech Obiero became the hero for the hosts when he beat Jacob Widell Zetterstrom from the spot to settle the third round tie, after Callum Elder had seen his spot-kick saved by Orient’s Josh Keeley.
Orient grabbed the lead on 20 minutes against their Championship opponents but it was to prove short-lived.
Derby failed to clear a corner and central defender Omar Beckles headed the ball on to Sonny Perkins, whose touch found Charlie Kelman. The striker was able to pick his spot and notch his 11th goal of the season.
The Rams were back on level terms within four minutes. Marcus Harness delivered a delightful cross into the box and Brown slid the ball into the net from close range.
The game remained keenly contested but the visitors were the better side after the break and the League One side were grateful to a couple of full-length saves by keeper Keeley, who kept out efforts by Corey Blackett-Taylor before a shot by substitute Tom Barkhuizen was deflected by Tom James onto the crossbar and safety.
Neither side managed to pose a serious threat during the first period of extra-time as tiredness appeared to take its toll and the match became a scrappy affair.
Keeley again came to the rescue when he dived to claw away a ferocious shot by Kenzo Goudmijn before the hosts were reduced to 10-men with eight minutes of the extra 30 remaining when Sean Clare picked up a second yellow card.
However, the Rams were unable to take advantage of their extra man as the tie went into a penalty shoot-out, with Manchester-born Richie Wellens’ team prevailing to set up a tie with the competition’s seven-time winners.