Birmingham City ended a three-month wait for a Championship away win with a 2-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, thanks to late strikes from Marvin Ducksch and birthday boy Kyogo Furuhashi.
The deadlock was finally broken seven minutes from time when Ducksch capitalized on Jay Stansfield’s shot, turning the rebound home from close range. In stoppage time, Kyogo sealed the result with a composed finish from a tight angle, marking his first Championship goal.
The match started with a bright passage of play from Birmingham, involving returning Jay Stansfield, Lewis Koumas, and Patrick Roberts. Roberts’ initial effort was blocked, while Stansfield’s subsequent shots were denied by Wednesday’s keeper, Murphy Cooper. Wednesday had their moments, too; Barry Bannan’s powerful drive skimmed over the bar, and a Bailey Cadamarteri effort rattled the woodwork after a crucial touch from Phil Neumann.
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Despite a frustrating first half for the 4,000-strong away support, Birmingham gradually grew into the game. After halftime, Blues pushed harder, forcing saves from Cooper with shots from Ducksch and Tomoki Iwata. The away side’s best chance to take the lead came from a Kai Wagner free-kick that Phil Neumann just failed to connect well enough on, though Cooper made a remarkable double save to deny Ducksch and Iwata.
Substitutions introduced fresh energy: Jhon Solis and Kyogo both entered with 23 minutes remaining. It was no coincidence that shortly after, Ducksch found the net, with Wednesday unable to clear a Jay Stansfield shot. Kyogo’s goal in stoppage time sparked celebrations as all players joined to mark the striker’s breakthrough in the Championship.
Birmingham saw out the match confidently, earning their first clean sheet in 15 games.
Player Ratings:
James Beadle 6 – Quiet night and a well-deserved clean sheet.
Tomoki Iwata 6 – Improved after halftime with strong efforts on goal.
Phil Neumann 7 – Key defensive interventions, crucial block to keep the score level.
Christoph Klarer 7 – Aerially dominant and composed on the ball.
Kai Wagner 7 – Threatening deliveries from the left flank, causing disruption.
Tommy Doyle 6 – Reliable on the ball but lacked incisiveness in key moments.
Paik Seung-ho 6 – Controlled play and wear down opposition midfield.
Patrick Roberts 6.5 – Active in the second half, creating key combinations.
Jay Stansfield 7 – Assisted the opener and involved in most attacking plays.
Lewis Koumas 5 – Struggled with his touch and opposition pressure.
Marvin Ducksch 7 – Delivered the crucial opener with composure and precision.
Jhon Solis 6.5 – Positive debut with effective defensive work.
Kyogo Furuhashi 7 – Clinched victory with a calm finish, ending his scoring drought.
Unused substitutes: Scott Wright, Willum Willumsson, Allsop, Sampsted, Fujimoto, Mazwi, Isichei.