Emirates FA Cup

Birmingham City 1 (Roberts 89’)

Leeds United 1 (Nmecha 49’)

Leeds United win 4-2 on penalties.

Birmingham: Allsop (GK), Klarer (C), Doyle, Gray (Osman 46’), Solis (Betteka 114’), Vicente (Roberts 74’), Osayi-Samuel (Fujimoto 83’), Stansfield, Priske (Ducksch 74’), Wagner, Panzo (Neumann 90’). Subs not used: Beadle (GK), Mayo (GK), Burrell.

Leeds: Perri (GK), Gudmundsson, Longstaff, Nmecha (Calvert-Lewin 68’), Bijol, Okafor (Bogle 82’), Tanaka (Piroe 78’), Bornauw (Rodon 91’), Justin (C), Gnonto (Aaronson 68’), Buonanotte (Ampadu 46’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Byram, Gruev.

Venue: St. Andrew’s

Attendance: 28,035

Referee: Paul Tierney

Booked: Solis, Vicente, Klarer (Birmingham)

Leeds United’s name will be in the hat for Monday evening’s Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round draw after overcoming Sky Bet Championship side Birmingham City on penalties at St Andrew’s.

With the match tied at the end of extra-time after Lukas Nmecha’s second-half finish was cancelled out by Patrick Roberts late on, goalkeeper Lucas Perri produced a fine save in the shootout to help Daniel Farke’s side progress in the competition.

The Whites started brightly in front of a packed out away end and a marauding Noah Okafor run down the flank saw the Swiss international race into the penalty area on the left, though the Blues managed to clear their lines.

The hosts threatened themselves early on and Sebastiaan Bornauw was well placed for the Whites to hack a Jay Stansfield flick away from danger.

Goalkeeper Perri was next called into action to deny the lively Stansfield, acrobatically tipping the forward’s fierce attempt brilliantly onto the crossbar!

The Brazilian was then equal to a Jhon Solis strike from distance, as St. Andrew’s rose to its feet to wish Birmingham owner Tom Wagner well as he recovers from a stroke.

United were continuing having to defend and Gabriel Gudmundsson diverted a Carlos Vicente cross behind before Demarai Gray saw a low strike blocked by teammate August Priske.

Keen to wrestle back momentum, midfielder Sean Longstaff arrowed a low drive from distance which City keeper Ryan Allsop turned behind at full stretch.

Despite a late chance for Gray which was again saved impressively by Perri, the action slowed down before the half-time whistle sounded.

HALF TIME: Birmingham City 0-0 Leeds United

The Whites emerged for the second period having made one change to the personnel as skipper Ethan Ampadu replaced Facundo Bounanotte.

Leeds grabbed the opener through striker Nmecha shortly after play got back underway, despatching emphatically beyond Allsop!

Okafor did brilliantly to initially seize on a loose ball following a Blues’ goal kick, releasing the forward who, after evading a challenge, fired a third goal in six games into back of the net from 20 yards out!

The Whites had to be alert to prevent a quickfire leveller. Slovenia international Jaka Bijol was on hand to dispossess Ibrahim Osman who was positioned dangerously in the middle.

Further activity from the dugout then introduced Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brenden Aaronson into proceedings in the West Midlands, replacing Willy Gnonto and goalscorer Nmecha.

Looking to put the game to bed, Bijol rose highest to meet a Longstaff corner kick, glancing a powerful header over the upright. Moments later, from the other side, it was James Justin who was unable to guide the ball on target attacking a set-piece.

After Joël Piroe had entered the action, United broke through Okafor down the left who had latched onto a flick from Calvert-Lewin. The forward twisted and turned his way into the middle but his low cross was diverted away from danger by a blue shirt.

Birmingham equalised in the final minutes through Patrick Roberts whose long-distance effort took a deflection beyond Perri and into the back of the net.

The Whites went close to retaking the lead deep into stoppage time. The ball cannoned around the Birmingham penalty area before falling to Calvert-Lewin who lashed a goalbound shot that was blocked by Kai Wagner.

With the final action of the regular period, the Blues came within inches of snatching victory. Ibrahim struck the woodwork from a narrow angle and the ball fell kindly to the onrushing Kanya Fujimoto.

The Japanese midfielder looked destined to score, until a sublime last-ditch challenge from Bijol ensured the tie went into an additional 30 minutes.

FULL TIME: Birmingham City 1-1 Leeds United

Extra-time got underway with Joe Rodon replacing Bornauw in the heart of defence. Leeds had an early opportunity as Calvert-Lewin raced into opposition territory. The England international released Piroe into the box though the striker was unable to get a shot away.

Then, latching onto a loose pass down the other end, Stansfield crossed dangerously to the back post where the onrushing Osman lashed over.

With the prospect of penalties looming, opportunities for Piroe, Calvert-Lewin and Ampadu came and went for the Whites before Paul Tierney’s whistle signalled a shootout was to follow.

With the spot kicks level at 2-2, Perri made a superb diving save to parry Tommy Doyle’s attempt, with Roberts next up for Birmingham also ballooning his penalty over the upright.

That meant the responsibility fell to Longstaff to win the tie for United and the midfielder did just that, smashing into the corner to see Farke’s men progress to the Fifth Round!

FULL TIME: Birmingham City 1-1 (P) Leeds United