Goals from Dylan Lawlor, Yousef Salech and a brace from Callum Robinson secured all three points for the Bluebirds in a seven-goal thriller against Leyton Orient.
Brian Barry-Murphy elected to make five changes from the side that faced Burton Albion on Tuesday, with Ronan Kpakio, Gabe Osho, Joel Colwill, Isaak Davies and Callum Robinson coming into the starting XI. There was also a place for 16 year-old Rob Tankiewicz on the bench.
It was a windy afternoon at CCS as both sides had their share of chances in the first half. Davies found joy on the right flank, making space fo Kpakio to have the first shot of the afternoon. Leyton Orient would respond shortly after. Dom Ballard played the ball through to Aaron Connolly who struck the ball at Nathan Trott. However, the City goalkeeper was up to his usual heroics to keep the game level.
Following a bright spell from the hosts, Chris Willock managed to chip the ball over to Robinson, who outpaced Leyton Orient’s defence and slotted home the opener. Trott would be tested again shortly after with visiting captain Omar Beckles having a shot in front of goal, but City’s keeper managed another outstanding save.
Striker Connolly then broke free, striking home for the equaliser. Dylan Lawlor would show his defensive brilliance deep into the first half. He found himself outnumbered following a quick counter-attack from the O’s. The defender managed a well-timed tackle which cleared the ball from danger, leaving the game level at the break.
52 minutes into the contest, Barry-Murphy’s side would score their second. Lawlor was rewarded for his clearance in the first half with space on the halfway line. After outmuscling Leyton Orient’s defence, the Welsh international drove forward and shot into the right-hand corner, marking his first senior goal for the Club.
Leyton Orient quickly found an equaliser. Despite Ballard’s initial shot being cleared off the line by Lawlor, the ball fell to Idris El Mizouni on the edge of the box, who levelled for the visitors. Ballard would get Orient’s third shortly after with a curling effort on the right side of the box, finding the top corner.
The Bluebirds had to wait until the 69th minute for their luck to turn. Captain Rubin Colwill was awarded space deep into opposition territory on the right flank. Rubin played a picture-perfect cross, which found substitute Yousef Salech, whose towering header levelled the score again.
Before the home fans had even finished celebrating, the hosts would find themselves again on the attack on the right flank. This time, Omari Kellyman played a quick ball through to Kpakio, who delivered an equally stunning pass across goal. The ball found the feet of Robinson, who drove the ball home and gave the Bluebirds the lead once more.
Despite Leyton Orient attempting to equalise once again, the Bluebirds saw out the three points. City are back in action at home on Tuesday against Newport County in our second Vertu Trophy fixture.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 4-3 LEYTON ORIENT
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.