Leeds survive penalty shootout at St Andrew's to reach FA Cup last 16
Leeds United booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round after a dramatic fourth-round tie at St Andrew's finished level and was decided by penalties. Lukas Nmecha opened the scoring early in the second half, Patrick Roberts levelled with a stunning strike in the 89th minute, and Sean Longstaff converted the decisive penalty as Leeds edged Birmingham in the shoot-out.
Drama late on as Blues push Premier League visitors all the way
It was a tie that underlined the magic of the FA Cup, with a Championship side matching – and at times outplaying – their Premier League opponents. Birmingham made a ferocious start, dominating possession and creating the better early chances. Jay Stansfield rattled the crossbar with a rasping half-volley that goalkeeper Lucas Perri managed to divert onto the post, while the best Leeds early response was a long-range effort from Sean Longstaff that was pushed away.
Both teams named heavily rotated XIs but the standard of play suggested few clues as to which team sits in which division. Leeds made a tactical change at half-time, bringing on Ethan Ampadu, who immediately injected energy and nearly profited from a chargedown of a clearance. The breakthrough came on 49 minutes when Noah Okafor found space down the flank and played in Lukas Nmecha, who tucked away his seventh of the season at the near post. With no VAR available in this round, a tight offside claim went unchecked and the goal stood.
Birmingham responded strongly. The hosts threatened repeatedly with sequences involving Stansfield, full debutant August Priske and Carlos Vicente, testing the Leeds rearguard and keeper Perri. Birmingham's sustained pressure paid emotional dividends too, with home fans applauding owner Tom Wagner as he continues his recovery from a stroke.
Late twist and tense shoot-out
As the clock ticked towards full time, Birmingham looked the likelier scorers, and in stoppage time Ibrahim Osman even struck the post. But Leeds produced a dramatic reprieve. Patrick Roberts, who had been introduced earlier, smashed a stunning equaliser in the 89th minute to force extra drama and set up a penalty showdown.
The spot-kicks were tense and unforgiving. Birmingham's Tommy Doyle saw his penalty saved by Perri, while Roberts, who had been the hero moments earlier, missed his opportunity in the shoot-out by firing over. Leeds were clinical from the other end; Sean Longstaff stepped up to slot Leeds' fourth successful penalty and send Daniel Farke's side through to the last 16. The victory marks the third time in four years Leeds have reached this stage of the competition.
The result will feel harsh on Birmingham, whose players and supporters can take heart from a gutsy performance that pushed their higher-ranked visitors to the limit. The Blues remain focused on their league ambitions, sitting only a couple of points shy of the Championship play-off places and intent on ending a 15-year exile from the top flight.
What it means next
Leeds progress but leave St Andrew's with plenty to work on; the tie exposed defensive frailties and reliance on moments of individual quality. For Birmingham, the cup exit is a bitter pill but one offset by evidence that the squad has the talent and temperament to challenge through the rest of the season. Both teams will quickly refocus on league priorities, with Leeds relieved to have avoided an upset and Birmingham buoyed by a display that confirmed their upward trajectory.
