Birmingham City 1-1 (2-4 Pen) Leeds United Player Ratings: Leeds Triumph on Penalties After Hard Fought Draw

Birmingham City and Leeds United played out a dramatic 1–1 draw after extra time, with Leeds advancing 4–2 on penalties in a gripping FA Cup encounter at St Andrew’s. The scoreline alone tells you this was no ordinary cup tie; this was a battle of endurance, nerve, and fine margins that ultimately went the visitors’ way from the spot.

Leeds thought they had done enough when they took the lead in the second half, but Birmingham refused to bow out quietly. A late equaliser forced extra time, and suddenly the momentum had completely shifted inside a rocking stadium.

Chances came and went in extra time, with both sides pushing for a decisive blow, but neither could find the winner. That meant penalties, the ultimate test of composure. Leeds held their nerve when it mattered most, converting four of their spot-kicks to seal progression and break Birmingham hearts.

Let’s take a look at Sportsdunia’s Birmingham City vs Leeds United player ratings from this unforgettable FA Cup thriller.

Key Takeaways

• Birmingham forced extra time with a late equaliser after Leeds had taken second-half control.
• Both sides pushed for a winner, but neither could break the deadlock in a tense battle.
• Clinical penalties secured a 4–2 shootout win, sending Leeds into the next round.

Birmingham City Player Ratings vs Leeds United

Let's take a look at the Birmingham City Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Ryan Allsop - 6.5: A mixed bag for the keeper. He made a couple of important saves and showed bravery coming for a high claim. However, his distribution was erratic, losing possession 25 times, which put his team under unnecessary pressure. He couldn't get near any of the penalties in the shootout, but he wasn't really expected to.

Defenders

Christoph Klarer - 7.0: A busy and committed performance from the captain. He was a dominant force in the air, winning 7 aerial duels, and made a staggering 10 clearances. We did notice he committed 5 fouls, picking up a yellow card, showing the intense pressure he was under. A solid, if sometimes frantic, display.

Bright Osayi-Samuel - 5.0: A really tough evening for the defender. From our perspective, he just never seemed to get into the game and was a liability at times. He lost possession a staggering 15 times and won only two of his ten duels. He just looked off the pace for much of the contest before being substituted.

Kai Wagner - 7.5: An excellent outlet on the left flank. His delivery was a constant threat, creating four key passes and whipping in nine crosses. Defensively, he was solid enough winning most of his duels and making some crucial clearances. He was one of Birmingham's most consistent creative sparks throughout the 120 minutes.

Jonathan Panzo - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance. He was very tidy in possession, completing 93% of his passes, which helped build from the back. He made 5 important clearances but struggled at times in the air, winning only a third of his aerial duels. A decent showing overall.

Midfielders

Tommy Doyle - 6.0: He was the metronome in midfield for large parts, completing 92% of his 76 passes and always making himself available. What stood out to us was his range of passing, spraying 11 successful long balls. However, his rating takes a huge hit for the crucial missed penalty in the shootout, a weak effort that was easily saved.

Demarai Gray - 6.0: A quiet first half for the winger. He showed glimpses of his quality with a 92% pass accuracy and one shot on target, but he struggled to impose himself on the game. We weren't surprised to see him hooked at halftime as the team needed a different kind of threat.

Jhon Solís - 7.5: Before his unfortunate injury forced him off in extra time, he was everywhere. He was a terrier in midfield, making six tackles and winning 11 duels. He was also composed on the ball, driving forward and even getting a shot on target. A very impressive performance that ended prematurely.

Carlos Vicente - 6.0: A frustrating game for the winger. He worked hard and drew a couple of fouls but also picked up a silly yellow card for simulation. He created one chance but ultimately failed to provide a consistent end product before he was substituted.

Jay Stansfield - 7.0: He was a livewire all game, a real handful for the Leeds defence. He had four shots, created two chances, and was unlucky to hit the woodwork. What stood out was his relentless energy, but his finishing was just a bit wayward. He coolly dispatched his penalty in the shootout.

Forwards

August Priske - 6.0: The forward worked hard to press the Leeds backline but was often isolated. He won a respectable number of duels but struggled to get involved in the game, managing only 20 touches in 74 minutes. A selfless performance, but one that lacked any real goal threat.

Substitutes

Patrick Roberts - 7.5: What an impact. Came off the bench and scored a fantastic equalizer from outside the box to send the tie to extra time. He was a breath of fresh air. It's a shame his night ended on a sour note, blazing his penalty over the bar in the shootout.

Ibrahim Osman - 7.0: He was electric after coming on at halftime. He was direct, ran at defenders, and was desperately unlucky not to score, hitting the post late in extra time. He brought a new dimension to Birmingham's attack.

Marvin Ducksch - 6.5: Brought on to add a physical presence and did his job well enough. Scored his penalty with confidence.

Manager

C. Davies - 7.0: His team showed incredible fight and character to force extra time against a strong Leeds United side. His substitutions, particularly Roberts and Osman, made a huge impact on the game. He can be proud of the performance, despite the heartbreaking shootout loss.

Leeds United Player Ratings vs Birmingham City

Goalkeeper

Lucas Perri - 8.0: A brilliant performance from the Leeds shot-stopper. He made four saves during the match, including a couple of really smart stops. But his true value came in the penalty shootout, where his fantastic save to deny Tommy Doyle proved to be the match-winning moment. A true hero.

Defenders

Jaka Bijol - 8.5: An absolutely colossal performance and our man of the match. He was a mountain at the back, winning 10 duels and making a mind-boggling 12 clearances, including one off the line. From our perspective, he was unbeatable in the air, winning 8 of 12 aerial battles. A truly dominant defensive masterclass.

Sebastiaan Bornauw - 7.0: A very solid partner for Bijol. He was composed and efficient, making 10 clearances and keeping his passing simple and effective. He did his job without any fuss and contributed to a strong defensive effort before being substituted at the start of extra time.

James Justin - 6.5: The captain had a tough battle all night. He made an incredible 13 clearances, showing his defensive awareness. However, he struggled with possession, losing it 23 times, and was dribbled past on three occasions. A mixed but hardworking performance.

Midfielders

Gabriel Gudmundsson - 7.0: A really impressive all-around display. Defensively, he was a standout with five interceptions and four tackles. He was also tidy on the ball, creating two chances for his teammates. A quietly effective game from the midfielder.

Sean Longstaff - 7.0: A workhorse in the middle of the park. He delivered an incredible 12 crosses and was always looking to make things happen. He also chipped in defensively, winning 8 duels and making three tackles. A tireless and influential performance.

Ao Tanaka - 7.0: Another strong midfield performer for Leeds. He was excellent at retaining the ball and driving forward, completing both of his dribble attempts and drawing three fouls. He put in a great shift before being subbed off late in normal time.

Wilfried Gnonto - 5.5: It just wasn't his day. He struggled to get involved in the game, losing possession 12 times in his 68 minutes. He didn't offer much of a threat going forward and it was no surprise when he was substituted.

Forwards

Lukas Nmecha - 7.5: He took his goal superbly, a clinical finish on the counter-attack that looked to be the winner for a long time. He was a constant nuisance for the Birmingham City defenders with his movement and hold-up play before being taken off.

Noah Okafor - 7.5: He was excellent before his injury. He provided a smart assist for Nmecha's goal and was a constant threat with his dribbling, completing three of his four attempts. His creativity was missed after he was forced off.

Facundo Buonanotte - 5.0: A very anonymous first half. He managed only 30 touches and struggled to make any impact on the game at all. Replaced at halftime, a decision that felt entirely justified.

Substitutes

Ethan Ampadu - 6.5: Came on at halftime and added steel and composure to the midfield. Kept things ticking over nicely.

Brenden Aaronson - 7.0: Looked lively and was always trying to create. Confidently scored his penalty in the shootout.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 7.0: Provided a different focal point up front and held the ball up well. Showed nerves of steel to score his penalty.

Joël Piroe - 7.0: Came on and kept possession well under pressure. He stepped up first in the shootout and calmly converted.

Manager

D. Farke - 7.5: His team showed resilience and a winning mentality. Even when Birmingham City equalized late, his side didn't panic and saw the job through in the shootout. His substitutions were calm and calculated, and he guided his team to a gritty FA Cup victory on the road.

Man of the Match

Jaka Bijol was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Bright Osayi-Samuel for Birmingham City had a very difficult game, struggling in his defensive duels.