Striker Crisis Solved As Junior Gives Antwerp A Royal Flush
02.08.26, 16:00 Updated 03.08.26, 17:43 2 Minute Read
Alex Stripe
Theo Archibald excelled in an unfamiliar centre-forward role before late goals from Idris El Mizouni and Charlie Wellens secured an impressive comeback victory over former Belgian champions Royal Antwerp.
It was a glorious afternoon in E10 as Leyton Orient welcomed Belgian Pro League side Royal Antwerp to Brisbane Road for their penultimate pre-season friendly ahead of the 2026/27 Sky Bet League One campaign.
Reporting from the media gantry for the first time for the Ear, there was a sense of anticipation around a fixture that offered another valuable test against strong European opposition.
Antwerp arrived in East London with an impressive pedigree, having lifted the Belgian Pro League title as recently as 2022/23 thanks to Toby Alderweireld's dramatic stoppage-time strike on the final day of the season. This was also the clubs' first meeting since a 3-0 Orient victory in Belgium back in 1970.
Become a member today.
Leyton Orientear needs its community to support independent, high-quality coverage of Leyton Orient FC. Subscribe to a monthly or annual package today to be a part of something special.
Already have an account? Sign in
Related Topics
Alex Stripe Born into the Ear through his father - who edited the zine for more than a decade - Alex is a professional multi-media sports journalist, who has been reporting from the gantry since 2016.