Birmingham City defeated Sheffield United 2-1 in the EFL Cup, with a late goal from Jay Stansfield sealing the victory. Kyogo Furuhashi opened the scoring for Birmingham, while Gustavo Hamer equalized for Sheffield United. Birmingham dominated the game and maintained their perfect record against Sheffield United in the EFL Cup. Sheffield Wednesday also advanced after a penalty shootout win over Bolton Wanderers.
Birmingham City secured a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in a thrilling EFL Cup tie, thanks to a late goal from super-sub Jay Stansfield. The all-Championship encounter saw Birmingham progress to the second round, setting up a clash with League One side Port Vale.
The match began brightly for Birmingham, with Kyogo Furuhashi scoring his first goal for the club just five minutes into the game. Demari Gray provided the assist, capitalizing on a mistake by Sheffield United's Dovydas Sasnauskas. Birmingham dominated the early stages and created several chances to extend their lead. Kyogo, in particular, had an opportunity to double his tally but failed to convert.
As the first half progressed, Sheffield United gradually grew into the game. Just before the interval, Thomas Cannon almost leveled the score with a powerful shot from distance that rattled the crossbar, a warning sign for the home side. Despite Birmingham's early dominance, they couldn't find a second goal, leaving the door open for Sheffield United to mount a comeback.
The second half saw Sheffield United push for an equalizer, and their efforts were rewarded in the 72nd minute. Gustavo Hamer scored a spectacular goal from the halfway line, beating Birmingham goalkeeper James Beadle with an audacious strike. The game was now level, setting the stage for a tense final 20 minutes.
With the match heading towards a draw, Birmingham manager Chris Davies made a tactical substitution, bringing on Jay Stansfield. The young forward proved to be the game-changer, displaying excellent footwork on the edge of the box before unleashing a shot that deflected into the net, sealing a 2-1 victory for Birmingham with just three minutes remaining.
Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday also progressed to the next round after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Bolton Wanderers. The match ended 3-3 after normal time, with Pierce Charles making crucial saves in the shootout. Wednesday will now face Premier League side Leeds United in the next round. The Owls’ reward for their triumph is a tie against Premier League opposition, with Leeds United the visitors to Hillsborough during the week beginning August 25.
Birmingham's victory was well-deserved, as they controlled the game for long periods and created numerous scoring opportunities. According to data debrief, the team ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 3.13 from their 20 efforts compared to the Blades’ measly 0.46 from their five attempts. This win also extended Birmingham's perfect record against Sheffield United in the EFL Cup, having previously defeated them in 1996-67 and 2006-07.
The result sees Birmingham City advance to the next stage, while Sheffield United will need to turn their attention back to the Championship season. For Birmingham, this EFL Cup win provides a positive boost and a chance to continue their progress in the competition. It also highlights the importance of squad depth and the impact that substitutions can make, as demonstrated by Stansfield's match-winning goal.
As the EFL Cup journey continues, both Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday will be eager to build on their victories and progress further in the competition. With potential clashes against Premier League opposition on the horizon, the stakes are high, and the excitement is sure to intensify.