Birmingham City lost a penalty shoot-out to Leeds United after 120 minutes of football at St Andrew's
Birmingham City's Patrick Roberts (second left) celebrates with his team mates after scoring against Leeds
Birmingham City's Patrick Roberts (second left) celebrates with his team mates after scoring against Leeds
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Leeds United knocked Birmingham City out of the FA Cup on penalties after a 1-1 draw at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.
A late strike from Patrick Roberts cancelled out Lukas Nmecha’s goal and set up a dramatic finish to the fourth round clash.
Leeds prevailed on penalties 4-2 with Sean Longstaff converting the winning spot-kick after Tommy Doyle and Roberts had failed to find the net for Blues.
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Blues played with the intensity of their crowd in the first 10 minutes and might have taken the lead through their favourite corner routine.
Doyle whipped an inswinger to the far post where the unmarked Jhon Solis was waiting. The Colombian found the wrong side of the net when he should have hit the target.
Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri produced a brilliant save to keep out Jay Stansfield’s left-footed strike after Blues kept alive a long ball by Ryan Allsop. Perri tipped Stansfield’s shot onto the woodwork.
Demarai Gray tested Perri with a low shot from the right side of the penalty area that the goalkeeper palmed away in a first half where Blues had all the significant chances.
That would be Gray’s last notable involvement on his first start since Boxing Day. In-form Brighton loanee Ibrahim Osman took his place for the second half.
Leeds punished Blues inside four minutes of the restart with a goal of Premier League quality from Nmecha.
The striker won a 50/50 challenge with Christoph Klarer and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box that flew past Allsop at his near post.
Osman got the better of Leeds right-back James Justin a few times and worked a three on three situation with 10 minutes to play. The winger had Stansfield and Patrick Roberts waiting in the middle but he couldn’t find either.
A good chance arrived for Osman in the 86th minute when Tommy Doyle’s right-wing cross reached him at the far post. Osman’s touch was off and he fizzed a shot wide of Perri’s goal.
Blues got the equaliser their effort deserved in the 89th minute via Roberts. Kai Wagner’s right-wing corner was cleared as far as Roberts and his shot flicked off Justin’s head and into the corner.
Birmingham City's Patrick Roberts (second left) celebrates after scoring
Birmingham City's Patrick Roberts (second left) celebrates after scoring (Image: PA)
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There was still one final chance in normal time for Blues to win it. A clever throw-in found Osman and he turned before striking the foot of the post with his shot. The ball dropped to Kanya Fujimoto for what would have been a dream moment in a frustrating season but the Japanese midfielder’s shot hit Jaka Bijol, not the net.
Blues regrouped and Chris Davies brought on Phil Neumann for Jonathan Panzo before the start of extra-time.
Osman had the first big chance in extra-time when Stansfield’s cross-cum-shot found him at the far post but the Ghanaian found Row Z of the Gil Merrick.
Leeds had moments of their own in extra-time, largely on the counter-attack, and the best opening fell to Joel Piroe 118 minutes on the clock. Substitutes Zaid Betteka and Fujimoto were both dispossessed before the ball dropped to Piroe but they were bailed out by a magnificent recovery challenge from Doyle.
Leeds’ class showed on penalties with all four of their takers converting and Blues failing to finish two of their spot-kicks. Doyle’s effort was saved by Perri before Roberts blazed over to give Longstaff the chance to win it and he duly did.
Ryan Allsop 7.5
Allsop showed exceptional distribution, particularly in the first half to set Gray away a couple of times. The coolest customer in the stadium.
Bright Osayi-Samuel 7.5
He made one outstanding recovery run to prevent Calvert-Lewin from a one-v-one situation with Allsop in the second half. Osayi-Samuel had a good game defensively.
Christoph Klarer 9
Klarer’s aerial prowess caused panic in Leeds’ box in the first half and Blues played on it. The Austrian looked every inch a Premier League defender.
Jonathan Panzo 8
Panzo didn’t put a foot wrong on his debut. He used the ball sensibly and showed that he can step in when needed in the remaining games this season.
Kai Wagner 8.5
The German made a brilliant block to deny Calvert-Lewin a goal in the 94th minute in another performance full of grit and guts. We didn’t see much from Wagner going forward but he was wholehearted and committed at the other end.
Tommy Doyle 8.5
A very tidy performance from the midfielder who dovetailed nicely with Solis. Doyle produced some quality deliveries from set pieces and the right-wing position when he drifted over to support Vicente and Roberts.
Leeds United's Ao Tanaka (left) and Birmingham City's Tommy Doyle
Leeds United's Ao Tanaka (left) and Birmingham City's Tommy Doyle (Image: PA)
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Jhon Solis 9*
Solis played with quality and matched the Premier League side. He received the ball in tight spaces and showed his ability to wriggle free and the vast majority of his passes were progressive. Blues have found a very good player.
Carlos Vicente 7
The winger had a right dust-up with Gudmundsson and won his fair share of the duels. Vicente worked his way into several crossing positions and made some dangerous deliveries.
Carlos Vicente of Birmingham City is shown a Yellow card
Carlos Vicente of Birmingham City is shown a Yellow card(Image: Getty Images)
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Jay Stansfield 8.5
A tireless performance from Blues’ record signing on a day where you always knew he was going to perform. Stansfield has played in the Premier League and will again.
Demarai Gray 7.5
There was a lot to like about Gray’s performance in the first half. One touch to collect a raking long pass from Allsop was sublime but he couldn’t match it with the finish.
August Priske 7.5
Priske really put himself about on his first start for Blues. He pressed and challenged for every ball, the only thing missing was the goal that his effort deserved, but the ball couldn’t drop for him.
SUBS
Ibrahim Osman (for Gray, 46) 8
Osman was a thorn in Leeds’ side and gave Justin a right headache. The only criticism of Osman is that he should have scored at least once.
Patrick Roberts (for Vicente, 74) 8
Roberts responded in the right way to losing his place in the starting XI with a good goal and cameo. He is outstanding on the ball.
Birmingham City's Patrick Roberts (left) scores against Leeds to send the FA Cup tie into extra-time
Birmingham City's Patrick Roberts (left) scores against Leeds to send the FA Cup tie into extra-time
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Marvin Ducksch (for Priske, 74) 7
Ducksch took up some clever positions and combined well with his teammates on occasions.
Kanya Fujimoto (for Osayi-Samuel, 82) 6.5
Couldn’t convert the chance to win the game before extra-time. Fujimoto picked off some Leeds passes but he also gave the ball away a few times, which is maybe some rustiness due to his lack of football.
Phil Neumann (for Panzo, 90) 7
A solid defensive performance in an unorthodox defensive set-up and he fed the ball wide to Roberts and Fujimoto well.
Zaid Betteka (for Solis, 113) N/A
Not used: Beadle, Mayo, Burrell
Attendance: 28,035
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