Football Feb 16, 2026

Birmingham 1-1 Leeds (Leeds win 4-2 on pens): Premier League side need penalties to reach FA Cup fifth round

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Birmingham 1-1 Leeds (Leeds win 4-2 on pens): Premier League side need penalties to reach FA Cup fifth round

Sean Longstaff scored the winning spot-kick as Leeds edged through to the last 16 of the FA Cup by beating Birmingham 4-2 on penalties after it had finished 1-1 after extra time.

Blues substitute Patrick Roberts struck an 89th-minute equaliser to cancel out Lukas Nmecha's second-half strike but Leeds held their nerve in the shootout.

Leeds quartet Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson and Longstaff all converted, while Tommy Doyle's effort for Birmingham was saved and Roberts fired his effort over the crossbar.

After Leeds had ridden a first-half storm, Nmecha's thumping finish soon after the restart looked set to send them through, but Roberts' late equaliser forced extra time.

Leeds, who won 3-1 at Derby in the previous round, will now bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002-03.

Blues went close to taking an 11th-minute lead when Jay Stansfield's rising drive was brilliant finger-tipped on to the crossbar by Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri.

Blues revealed this week chairman Tom Wagner was recovering from a stroke and home fans unfurled a huge 'get well' banner before kick-off, while there was a minute's applause in the 13th minute in tribute to their American owner. Leeds sent their best wishes via a message posted on X on Sunday morning.

Birmingham swarmed all over Leeds in the opening 20 minutes. Jhon Solis and Kai Wagner saw shots held by Perri and skipper Christoph Klarer's header was blocked.

And Perri denied Birmingham what would have been a deserved lead just before the break with another full-length save to keep put Demarai Gray's low shot.

Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu replaced the ineffective Facundo Buonanotte at the interval and the visitors took the lead within four minutes of the restart.

Klarer lost out to Nmecha on the edge of the area and the striker crashed home a superb finish for his seventh goal of the season. It was Leeds' second effort on target.

Birmingham mounted a spirited response, forcing a series of corners as Stansfield fired wide and August Priske's effort was blocked.

But with Ampadu prominent, Leeds carried more of a threat in the second period, only for Roberts to conjure a late equaliser as his shot from outside the box flew in via a deflection off James Justin.

Calvert-Lewin, who had replaced Nmecha, saw his goalbound shot deflected over and in a frantic finish to the 90 minutes, Blues hit a post through Ibrahim Osman's low shot, with fellow substitute Kanya Fujimoto's follow-up effort blocked.

Osman spurned another chance at the far post in the first period of extra time, while Piroe, Calvert-Lewin and Ampadu all had chances for Leeds in the second as a thrilling cup-tie flowed from end to end before being decided on penalties.

Tags:

football report

Share this article

Related Posts

Scottish Premiership goals and free match highlights of every game in 2025/26 season

Scottish Premiership goals and free match highlights of every game in 2025/26 season

Your Site Essential EFL podcast: League One & Two reviewSimeon Gholam is joined by Aaron McLean and Ben Tozer on League One and Two review on the Your...

Championship play-offs: EFL likely to opt for six-team expanded format in 2026/27 ahead of general meeting

Championship play-offs: EFL likely to opt for six-team expanded format in 2026/27 ahead of general meeting

The Championship play-offs are likely to include six teams for the first time from next season, Your Site News understands.All EFL clubs will take par...

Ref Watch recap: Brighton, Leeds incidents and more analysed by former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher

Ref Watch recap: Brighton, Leeds incidents and more analysed by former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher

'Casemiro keen on Europe move ahead of Man Utd exit'Casemiro is keen to continue his career in Europe after he leaves Manchester United&nbsp...

Kai Havertz: Arsenal forward set to miss at least four matches with muscular injury

Kai Havertz: Arsenal forward set to miss at least four matches with muscular injury

Kai Havertz has picked up a muscular injury and is set to miss Arsenal's next four games at least, ruling him out of the north London derby at Tottenh...

Charlton 1-0 Stoke: Tyreece Campbell scores winner as Addicks boost survival chances with victory at The Valley

Charlton 1-0 Stoke: Tyreece Campbell scores winner as Addicks boost survival chances with victory at The Valley

Substitute Tyreece Campbell scored his third goal of the season as Charlton opened up a seven-point gap to the Championship bottom three after a 1-0 v...

Scottish Premiership goals and free match highlights of every game in 2025/26 season

Scottish Premiership goals and free match highlights of every game in 2025/26 season

Papers: Amorim lined up for management returnThe 'promising' but 'controversial' results from Man Utd's financial reportsChelsea legend Terry 'frustra...