AFC Wimbledon won this contest 4-2, though the scoreline understates the turbulence of a Tuesday evening that produced seven goals in a frantic 44-minute spell either side of half-time.
Wimbledon took control early. Dominic Ballard opened the scoring on 15 minutes, and while Leyton Orient remained in the match through the first half, Robert Junior Nkeng struck twice in the closing stages of it, at 39 and 45 minutes, to give the home side a commanding lead at the interval.
Orient responded immediately. Theodore Archibald pulled one back within a minute of the restart, and Daniel Happe levelled at 46 minutes. For a brief moment the match had shifted. Wimbledon's answer was swift and decisive: Ballard added his second on 48 minutes to restore the lead, and any remaining hope Orient carried dissolved when Happe, having scored to make it 2-2, was shown a red card at 53 minutes, leaving his side to play the remainder with ten men.
Ballard completed his hat-trick on 70 minutes. James Morris had scored for Orient at 57, but the numerical disadvantage wore visibly on the visitors as the half progressed. Idris El Mizouni was also dismissed at 68 minutes, reducing Orient to nine men.
Sonny Perkins and Marcus Browne added further goals late on to confirm a 4-2 result that reflects Wimbledon's authority over the final hour, whatever the drama that preceded it.
Recap generated from the event timeline. Editorial team review by request. How we use AI.
