Birmingham City Women 3-4 Liverpool Women; Subway Players Cup, Group Stage
St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park – Report written by Anne Myers, Chloe, Tia and Kelsea Owen

A breathless, end-to-end cup classic unfolded under the lights at St Andrew’s on Wednesday night as Blues Women were cruelly denied a hard-earned point, falling 4-3 to Liverpool Women in a relentless Subway Players Cup tie packed with drama.

Amy Merricks’ side showed immense character to lead and fight back from behind against their WSL visitors, only to be undone by a devastating 93rd-minute winner from a late corner.

The visitors made the perfect start, taking the lead with just four minutes on the clock. Marie Höbinger collected the ball on the edge of the box after Fuka Nagano’s press and drilled a low finish past Lucy Thomas. Despite the early setback, Blues refused to fold and gradually grew into the contest, causing problems on the break. The reward came on 34 minutes with an absolute lightning counter-attack. Chancelle Effa Effa drove forward with real power, carving open the Liverpool backline before squaring a perfect pass for Marie Levasseur, who finished coolly to make it 1-1. The positive momentum was briefly halted just before the interval when Liverpool’s Aurélie Csillag had to be stretchered off following a non-contact injury, replaced by Cornelia Kapocs.

Blues started the second half with brilliant intent and took a deserved lead five minutes after the restart. Rebecca McKenna delivered an excellent cross into the box, met by a firm, clinical header from Lee Geum-min to send the St Andrew’s crowd into raptures.
Unbelievably, the lead lasted barely sixty seconds. Liverpool hit back immediately as 18-year-old substitute Neve McDonald reacted quickest at the back post to poke home a deflected effort for her first senior goal.

The visitors then retook the lead on 54 minutes when Höbinger capitalised on loose build-up play to smash home a spectacular second from distance. True to the fighting spirit of this squad, Blues dug deep once again. In the 76th minute, Wilma Leidhammar produced a moment of absolute magic, unleashing a powerful 25-yard rocket that flew past Faye Kirby to level the scores at 3-3.

As the clock ticked deep into stoppage time, a brilliant point against top-flight opposition looked entirely secure. However, there was to be one final, agonizing twist. An in-swinging corner caused absolute chaos in the six-yard box, allowing substitute Natalia Ramos to stab the ball home from close range to snatch a dramatic victory for Matt Beard’s side.

While the result leaves Blues with work to do in the group phase, the performance showed exactly what this team is capable of against the elite. The resilience to fight back multiple times, combined with standout moments from Levasseur, Lee, and Leidhammar, gives Merricks plenty of positives to take into league action this weekend.

Goal scorers 

Birmingham
M. Levasseur (34′)
Lee Geum-Min (50′)
W. Leidhammar (76′)

Liverpool
M. Höbinger (4′, 54′)
N. McDonald (51′)
Natalia Ramos (90’+3)

Next game for Blues is away at Everton on Sunday. Tickets are available – https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bcfc/EDP/Event/Index/5839?position=1