The history books will say Leyton Orient led their thrilling FA Cup fourth-round tie with Premier League champions Manchester City for 40 minutes because of a Stefan Ortega own goal.
Forget that.
To anyone lucky enough to be there to witness it – a tie Man City recovered to win 2-1 – Leyton Orient scored thanks to a wonder strike from Jamie Donley.
It was the Tottenham loanee who seized on the loose ball after City midfielder Nico Gonzalez had the ball taken off him just inside the visitors’ half. It was Donley who spotted Ortega off his line and executed a quite brilliant 50-yard chip that sailed over the City goalkeeper.
Yes, the ball struck the bar and only crossed the line because it hit Ortega as the German failed to regain his balance after trying to make the initial save. It was Donley’s goal.
“It is a shame it has gone down as an own goal,” said Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens. “It is not deserved and I am sure Ortega doesn’t want it. It is one thing seeing it, it is another executing.”
Despite the result, the goal belongs in FA Cup folklore.
A series of experienced former top-level professionals certainly spoke about the effort as if Donley has scored it.
“It’s an absolutely remarkable goal,” said ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown on Match of the Day. “It’s the strike of a lifetime. To even think about shooting from there – wow.”
“What a spot,” enthused Chris Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live. “What a story. It’s absolutely sensational.
“It will go down as an own goal but it is one of the greatest FA Cup goals.”
But what did it feel like to actually do it?
“I know I hit the goal well,” said Donley. “I knew it fell for me nicely.
“I saw him off his line and luckily it went in. It would have been a lot nicer if we won but it was a good moment.”
Donley had previously scored five goals this season. In status or artistic impression, none can compare to this one.
Even City boss Pep Guardiola, while seething at what he believed was a clear foul on his £50m debutant Gonzalez – whose status as the replacement for injured Ballon d’Or winner Rodri makes him such a key figure, and who, as a result of the perceived infringement, now has his participation in Tuesday’s Champions League play-off first-leg in doubt, was full of admiration.
“What a goal,” he said. “What a fantastic shot – the quality, the technique, the speed, the flight of the ball.
“When you concede this goal, you just congratulate Donley. He’s an incredible left-footed player and he made a fantastic goal.”
