St. Andrew’s Stadium, Birmingham: Leeds United just about kept their FA Cup hopes alive after a pulsating Fourth Round tie against Birmingham City, finishing 1-1 after extra time before prevailing 4-2 in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout at St. Andrew’s on Sunday.
In a match that had everything — late drama, last-gasp goals and penalty drama — it was Lukas Nmecha who broke the deadlock early in the second half with a well-taken finish for Leeds. But the Championship outfit refused to lie down. With time running out, Patrick Roberts rifled home a stunning 89th-minute equaliser to send the tie into extra time and ignite the home crowd.
The 120 minutes that followed were intense but goalless, meaning the tie would be decided from 12 yards. Leeds held their nerve in the shootout, with Sean Longstaff firing home the decisive spot-kick after goalkeeper Lucas Perri made a crucial save to deny Birmingham’s Tommy Doyle. Birmingham’s Roberts couldn’t convert — blazing his effort over the bar — and Leeds booked their place in the FA Cup Fifth Round.
Key Moments & Stats
Nmecha (49’) opened the scoring for Leeds.
Roberts (89’) rescued parity with a superb late strike.
Perri’s save proved decisive in the shootout.
Attendance: 28,035 at St. Andrew’s.
For Birmingham, it was a performance full of fight and belief. They pressed Leeds throughout, created several chances and came within inches of avoiding penalties entirely. Leeds, the Premier League side, were made to work incredibly hard — testament to the competitive spirit of their lower-league hosts.
Around the Ground
“It was a real cup tie, the type you dream about,” one Birmingham fan told reporters after the final whistle, praising their side’s gutsy performance. Leeds boss Daniel Farke also acknowledged the challenge: “They were excellent today — we had to grind it out and penalties are always a lottery.”
As Leeds progress to the Fifth Round, Birmingham can hold their heads high after pushing a top-flight side to the limit. This tie will be remembered as one of the FA Cup’s classic under-dog stories of the weekend.
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