Cardiff City overcame Leyton Orient in an utterly captivating, seven-goal League One thriller to bounce back from successive home defeats in spectacular fashion.
Callum Robinson gave Cardiff a first-half lead against the run of play as he latched on to Chris Willock’s fine pass, but Richie Wellens’ impressive visitors equalised when Gabriel Osho’s woefully underhit back-pass gifted Aaron Connolly the time and space to finish.
Dylan Lawlor restored the Bluebirds’ advantage as he strode forward from the halfway line and fired in from 20 yards for his first senior goal, only for Idris El Mizouni to hit back immediately with a shot that took two deflections on its way in.
Dom Ballard then curled a beautiful left-footed strike into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area to put Orient ahead for the first time – but deservedly so – after an hour.
That was not the end of the drama, though. Far from it.
Cardiff equalised when Yousef Salech headed in from Rubin Colwill’s cross and, less than two minutes later, they were back in front as a sweeping, coast-to-coast counter-attack was finished off by Robinson.
That goal sparked wild celebrations at Cardiff City Stadium, yet still there was more to come as another Osho error played in Connolly, who was thwarted by one of Nathan Trott’s many brilliant saves on the day.
Victory moves Cardiff up to third in League One, two points behind leaders Stevenage, while Orient remain 17th.