Cambridge United bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup at the Third Round stage as they were edged out 2-3 by Birmingham City at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…

The U’s were undone during a clinical first half from the visitors, who went in two goals to the good at the break thanks to Kai Wagner and Kyogo Furuhashi. Late in the evening Marvin Ducksch looked to have killed the game off when he converted, but a well-taken quickfire brace from substitute Sullay Kaikai gave the hosts momentum, who fought valiantly until the very end but overall couldn’t grab a dramatic leveller as they tasted defeat for the first time in 15 matches.

Following on from the comfortable victory against Walsall on New Year’s Day, Neil Harris opted to name three changes to his XI as James Gibbons, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and George Hoddle received starts, whereas Michael Morrison returned from injury to make the bench.

After passing a lunchtime pitch inspection, cup fever was scattered around CB5 for this early evening kick-off between the sides – with two leagues now separating them in the pyramid. Form couldn’t be more eye-catching for the hosts, who were on a 14-match unbeaten run – which included dispatching Chester and Stockport County to make this stage. As for the visitors, they put to bed a seven-game winless streak last time out by overcoming runaway leaders Coventry City 3-2 to put themselves 14th in the Championship table, with Chris Davies naming a strong side as they eyed progression.

Fought in foggy conditions, United made a good start out of possession by carving out the opening opportunity on the 7th minute when Liam Bennett met a long ball by outpacing the defence down the right before hitting a clean half-volley from a tight angle which was caught by U21s European Champion James Beadle. 

It had been a cautious start from last season’s League One winners, with the hosts holding their own and looking to play out from the back where they can. After a spell of sustained pressure in the final third, Cambridge probed when Gibbons floated a delivery to the back post, which was headed to Ben Knight from 12 yards out, but his strike generated too much height as it flew over the crossbar.

On the half hour mark, the Blues opened the scoring when Furuhashi’s initial attempt was denied by a crucial block, but it invitingly fell back to Wagner on the edge of the box whose powerful drilled attempt deflected past Jake Eastwood.

With a plethora of attacking talent at their disposal, Davies’ side now looked settled and were proving dangerous. On the 39th minute, Furuhashi slipped in Ducksch on the left-hand side of the area, whose first-time effort was caught by Eastwood. 

Four minutes before the break, pressure from striker Furuhashi saw him steal the ball near the halfway line and with pace to burn scampered towards goal in a one-on-one position before showing composure to slot into the corner to give the U’s work to do.

It proved to be a lively start to the second half, with dangerman Furuhashi again coming close when his attempted dink landed inches past the post, before Cambridge went up the other end and teed up Knight, who couldn’t keep his shot down as it was fired over the woodwork. 

Importantly for the hosts, they were enjoying more of the possession, but were yet to find that killer pass and conviction to find a way back in the encounter. On 60, Shayne Lavery and Kaikai were introduced, with Ben Purrington and Shane McLoughlin soon to follow.

The game was put to bed on the 77th minute when Birmingham won the ball high up through Tommy Doyle, who was able to find a looming Ducksch who nestled a first-time effort home.

In response, the U’s kept remained keen to get the ball forwards, which resulted in a consolation two minutes later when Louis Appere drove into the box, but an interception came straight back to Kaikai who pulled one back with a low attempt past Beadle.

As it turned out, this tie would in fact go to the wire as Kaikai grabbed his second to ensure a grandstand finish. McLoughlin’s free-kick was nodded back to the substitute from Mamadou Jobe, who executed a sublime volley to breathe further to the CB5 crowd.

With five minutes of injury time indicated, United fancied their chances as they continued to pour forwards. A long ball found its way to Purrington at the back post, whose header hit the sidenetting, with the Blues needing to dig deep.

Ultimately, it was a hurdle too strong for Harris’ side, who can be happy with their desire to finish in the ascendency and their overall FA Cup journey, which is now over for another campaign.

Attention is now diverted back to League Two next Saturday (17 January) when the U’s make the mammoth trek up to Lancashire to take on Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium.

 

Cambridge United: Eastwood, Bennett, Jobe, Ibsen Rossi, Gibbons (Purrington, 73’), Ball (Lavery, 62’), Hoddle, Brophy (Kaikai, 62’), Mpanzu (McLoughlin, 73’), Knight, Appere

Subs Not Used: Hughes, Morrison, Kachunga, McConnell, McDougald 

Goalscorers: Kaikai (79’, 88’)

Bookings: Hoddle

 

Birmingham City: Beadle, Tomoki, Klarer, Robinson (Neumann, 76’), Wagner, Doyle, Paik, Roberts (Willumsson, 74’), Ducksch, Koumas (Sampsted, 90+1’), Kyogo (Fujimoto, 74’)

Subs Not Used: Allsop, Bateman, Mazwi, Isichei, Burrell

Goalscorers: Wagner (30’), Furuhashi (41’), Ducksch (77’)

Bookings:

 

Referee: Matt Corlett

Attendance: 6241 (1447 away fans)