Video summary
In this thrilling League One cup clash between Leyton Orient and Bradford City, the match began with intense pressure on both sides as they vied for a spot in the fourth round. Leyton Orient started strong after McCauley Gillespie accidentally deflected a shot into his own net, giving the visitors an early lead. Despite Orient's efforts to maintain possession and create chances through players like O'Keefe and Dobra, Bradford's defense held firm, with goalkeeper Adam Phillips making several crucial saves to keep his team in the game. The first half ended with Leyton Orient leading 1-0, but the momentum was clearly shifting as Bradford City began to assert their dominance in the second half.
Bradford City equalized just before halftime thanks to a brilliant goal from Will Swan, who finished clinically after a perfectly weighted pass from Steven Humphre. This stunning strike leveled the score at 1-1 and sparked a remarkable comeback for the Bantams. In the second half, Humphre returned to the starting lineup and immediately made an impact with another spectacular header, assisted by Kaylen Jackson, to put Bradford ahead 2-1. The crowd erupted in celebration as the home side's dream of promotion ended, while Bradford City seized control of the match with a series of well-executed attacks and clinical finishing.
The drama continued when substitute Nick Powell came off the bench and delivered a stunning cameo performance that sealed victory for his team. After hitting the bar with an earlier header, Powell capitalized on a corner kick opportunity to head the ball into the net, making it 3-1 to Bradford City. His goal was the perfect culmination of a night where every point scored by Bradford came from their own players, showcasing their resilience and tactical discipline. The final whistle confirmed Bradford City's progression to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, while Leyton Orient were eliminated despite their valiant efforts throughout the match.
This victory marked a significant achievement for Bradford City as they advanced with flying colors in East London. The team demonstrated exceptional teamwork, with key contributions from Gillespie, Humphre, Swan, and Powell ensuring their place in the next round of the competition. As they prepare for their upcoming fixture against Northampton Town, manager Graeme Alexander will have some difficult decisions to make regarding his squad selection. Nevertheless, this win cements Bradford City's status as a formidable side capable of competing at the highest level of English football.
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lead business takes a backseat
as these two League One rivals emerge
with a fourth round within touching
distance.
Orient chasing history, chasing a place
they haven't seen since 1962.
As Bradford City still remember 2013
when a cup run carried them all the way
to Wembley
[applause]
right looking to win it.
Morgan and that is pounced on by
Archerald.
[cheering]
This is Dra
and Gillespie stood his ground.
Morgan square pass cut out by Archerald.
Bradford on the retreat
and Gillespie able to get behind the
cross from Drao.
Dra formerly of Chesterfield to take.
Leave it in. That's dangerous. Very
dangerous. Oh, you Klay. It bounced off
him and into the grasp of McCracken.
Did not know an awful lot about this.
Ball delivered in. [cheering]
Kept alive by Forester. Just came off
the chest of Oyakunlay.
Janeedu takes
coming in off that right flank. One by
O'Keefe who got up well
[applause]
Hayden being followed by Swan
Kunlay here for Orian
partially away. Draunlay
Springer.
It's a decent looking cross. It's a free
header for Dobra.
He was way off target with the effort.
[applause]
Freedom with the delivery.
Do
eight nine yds out. It's well wide of
the mark.
>> [cheering]
>> That battle still goes on between
Oyokunlay and Matthews.
[cheering]
Do skips around Matthews's challenge and
delivers with the outside of the boot.
Off
McCauley Gillespie [cheering]
and Leighton going front
in the most virtuous of circumstances.
>> [cheering and applause]
>> McCauley Gillespie, who ended Orient's
dreams of promotion last year with that
goal in the playoff final, has put
through his own net to give the O's the
lead in the Carabal Cup.
Gobra picking the loose ball up,
stepping round Matthews
and Gillespie
swung at the ball, hit his standing leg,
I think. And then it goes beyond
McCracken.
[cheering] Yeah.
Must be cursing his luck.
Springer.
outright robbed of it by Elmazoui.
Garbra, that's a good looking ball for
Morris and McCracken comes up big.
Really good stop from the Bradford
goalkeeper. Now Lapsley has fouled but
McCracken there sharply off his line to
deny James Morris.
Cartright got his pocket picked. Lovely
ball from Dra
and McCracken with a really smart stop.
Humphres. Oh, a lovely disguised pass
into Swan. [cheering]
That is a brilliant goal.
Steven Humphre with a beautiful assist.
And Will Swan with an excellent finish.
And on the cusp of Halime, Bradford City
are level.
>> [cheering]
>> This is a peach of a pass from Humphre.
Took it on the turn.
Measured, waited to perfection.
And the finish is not bad either from
Will Swan.
[cheering]
It's all square in East London. Leighton
Orient one, Bradford City one.
>> [cheering]
>> Archerald.
Where will that end up? It's a free
strike at goal from Dra straight at
McCracken.
Should not have reached him though.
Surprised that found its way to Dobra.
Archerald
all the way across.
McCracken well positioned to make the
save.
Stevens looking for that one in behind
Kunlay.
He's defended it well enough. Here come
Morans again. Archerald
Jackson cutting that one out. Elmazooni
strikes off the bar. McCracken
steers it away with his right leg.
Stevens
has put several dangerous balls into
that penalty area already. [cheering]
Mazoui
so close
putting Orient back in front.
Touch to get it out of his feet. Wicked
spin on the ball. Hits McCracken who to
his credit reacted well.
>> [cheering]
>> can't write for Bradford.
>> JACKSON
SWINGS IT OVER. THAT'S A FABULOUS
HEADER. Steven Humphre. [cheering]
Well, he is making a big point to Graeme
Alexander tonight.
A goal and an assist for Steven Humphre
and Bradford City go 2-1 up in the
capital.
[cheering]
Kayen Jackson [cheering]
with a sweet ball in. Humphre
[cheering] meets it perfectly.
That is an excellent header.
>> Beyond Noah Phillips it goes.
>> [cheering]
>> And Steven Humphre is back in the
Bradford team with a bang.
Bradford come against Swan.
Powell.
Nick Powell. Oh, he spotted a gap. tried
to squeeze it past Phillips. [applause]
[cheering]
Having only just come on from the bench,
this was a decent try from Nick Powell.
Gillespie.
Oh, what a ball. Cory O'Keefe cutting it
back. Wins a corner.
[cheering and applause]
Teach of a pass though from Gillespie to
get O'Keefe around the back here.
Pretty sure Connelly will be looking for
that bunch of players. Indeed he does.
Oh, and it's thumped against the bar by
Powell.
O'Keefe [cheering]
found a way through.
Lapsley
into Powell on the turn. Stings the
palms of Phillips.
Bradford City here looking to finish the
job. But tell you what, Nick Powell's
made a big difference since coming on
[cheering]
right in the thick of the action.
>> This was the header from the corner.
th it.
It's the bar.
Phillips.
[cheering]
Phillips again. He's put Powell through
this to finish it. He couldn't. Phillips
can't either.
>> What a block that was. [applause]
Phillips into Powell but dead cert to
score. Phillips with a really good save
and Adam Phillips also denied.
O'Keefe's corner. [cheering]
Phillips
teased back in by O'Keefe. Look at that.
It's a free man there. POWELL.
>> BRADFORD CITY ARE THROUGH.
>> [cheering]
>> NICK POWELL gets his goal.
>> He has been excellent since climbing off
the bench.
And those that have traveled from West
Yorkshire will feel that this has been
more than worth it.
[cheering]
He hit the bar with a header earlier in
the game. Nick Powell should have scored
just a moment ago. Now he has.
[cheering]
And that surely cements Bradford's place
in round four of the League Cup.
[cheering]
Tell you what, Graeme Alexander's got
some tricky decisions to make ahead of
that game against Knots County at the
weekend. [cheering]
And Bradford City book their place in
the fourth round of the Carabal Cup. All
four goals tonight scored by Bradford
City players. McCauley Gillespie putting
through his own net in the first half to
give Orient the lead, but what a
response from the Bantams. Will Swan got
them level on the cusp of Halime.
Steven Humphre set him up for that one.
And then Humphre himself on his first
appearance of the season with a terrific
header to put Bradford 2-1 up and the
deal was finished. It was sealed by Nick
Powell with a terrific cameo from the
bench.
It is they who [cheering] go through to
round four. Leighton are out. Ratford
City march on full time in East London.
Lake Norri one, Ratford City 3.