Back
Charlton vs Leyton Orient: League One Play Off Final
A place in the Championship is on the line this Sunday as Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient square off under the arch at Wembley in the League One play-off final. With both clubs riding a wave of momentum into this all-London affair, the stakes could hardly be higher in what promises to be a fiercely contested showdown.
by Berba
Charlton reached the final in dramatic fashion, edging past Wycombe in the semi-finals courtesy of an 81st-minute winner in the second leg – a moment that saw manager Nathan Jones drop to his knees in emotional celebration. The Addicks, who spent years as a Premier League side and are often tipped as being too big for the third tier, are looking to end a five-year stay in League One. They’ve timed their run perfectly too, losing just one of their last ten matches (W7, D2) to arrive at Wembley with confidence brimming.
Adding to their psychological advantage is the fact that Charlton completed a league double over Orient this season, winning both encounters by a single-goal margin. That historical edge could prove vital in what is likely to be a tightly fought contest.
However, Leyton Orient arrive as one of the season’s great stories. Richie Wellens’ side defied pre-season expectations – which gave them just a 12% chance of finishing in the top six – to reach the final, and they’ve done it the hard way. After finishing the regular season with six straight league wins, Orient held their nerve to beat Stockport on penalties in a pulsating semi-final.
Promotion would mark Orient’s first-ever ascent to the Championship, an extraordinary achievement considering they were in League Two just two seasons ago. While Wellens’ personal record against Charlton (W2, L6) might raise concerns, his team’s recent form suggests they won’t be overawed by the occasion.
In terms of key players, Charlton will look to Matty Godden, the man who sent them to Wembley. His last nine scoring appearances have all resulted in victories, and though he experienced heartbreak at the national stadium with Coventry in the 2023 Championship play-off final, he’ll be hoping for redemption this time around. Orient will once again lean on 23-goal striker Charlie Kelman, whose knack for second-half goals – including all three career strikes against Charlton – could prove crucial in a tense finale. Five of the last six League One play-off finals have seen the winning side score exactly twice in regulation time – something worth bearing in mind in what’s expected to be another tight, high-stakes encounter.