The magic of the FA Cup is well and truly alive, even though third-tier Leyton Orient were unable to heap more misery upon Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and knock them out of the FA Cup.
The intriguing fourth-round tie began with the home side breaking the deadlock, threatening a classic cup upset. And the way they did it was nothing short of sublime.
Jamie Donley, on loan from Tottenham, continued the recent trend of antagonising Man City being the only positive of 2024/25 from a Spurs perspective.
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He chipped City keeper Stefan Ortega from about 40 yards out in a bona fide highlight reel effort.
JAMIE DONLEY. THAT’S INCREDIBLE. ?
The @SpursOfficial loanee with an incredible effort from distance that ends up in the net to give @leytonorientfc the opening goal against Manchester City ?#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/bHnKg92Q2y
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 8, 2025
It put Orient 1-0 up in their hopes of one of the biggest wins of their storied history.
Here’s a link to a clip of the goal, though georestrictions may apply.
Alas, it was not to be as second half goals from Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin de Bruyne meant City avoided embarrassment and finished 2-1 winners at the Matchroom Stadium.
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‘Greatest own goal of all time’
The strike has been registered as an Ortega own goal, after coming off the keeper via the woodwork last.
As a result of Donley’s efforts towards it, fans were quickly labelling it perhaps the greatest OG ever.
Surely the Greatest own goal in FACup history
— daniel lee (@Dannyleeo4Lee) February 8, 2025
The greatest own goal ever?
— Jamie (@jamieparkins) February 8, 2025
“The records may say ‘own goal’, but it will always be a Jamie Donley goal to us,” noted the BBC 5 Live social media account in a post that was quickly liked/favourited by hundreds of those in agreement.
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Donley comments on wonder (own) goal
Post-match, the young attacker said in an interview: “I know I hit the goal well. I knew it fell for me nicely. I saw him off his line and luckily it went in. It will be a happy moment.
“It would have been a lot nicer if we won. It was disappointing we lost but it was a good moment.
“I thought we did well. We knew it would be a really tough game.
“I thought we made a good account of ourselves. It’s disappointing to lose but I’m proud of the boys.”
Jamie Donley age, nationality, position, biography
Jamie Donley was born on January 3, 2005, meaning he turned 20 just over a month before his stunning goal in the FA Cup against Man City.
He is on loan at Orient from neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, where he has made sporadic fringe appearances thus far as part of his development. He’s been on Spurs’ books since 2013.
Donley plays as a forward or support striker, and has represented both England and Northern Ireland at youth levels having been born in Antrim.
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