Durham Women 0-5 Birmingham City Women: Sarri Shines as Blues Hit Five in League Cup Rout
Birmingham City Women produced an emphatic performance on Wednesday night, securing a 5-0 away victory over Durham Women in the Subway Women’s League Cup at Maiden Castle Sports Park.
Veatriki Sarri scored twice, while Wilma Leidhammar, Chelsea Cornet and Lily Crosthwaite also found the net as Amy Merricks’ side recorded a convincing cup win.
The Blues established a 2-0 lead before half-time and added three further goals after the interval to complete a comprehensive victory. The result also included a clean sheet, with Durham unable to find the net throughout the contest.
Durham Women vs Birmingham City Women: Match Details
- Competition: Subway Women’s League Cup
- Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
- Venue: Maiden Castle Sports Park
- Half-time score: Durham Women 0-2 Birmingham City Women
- Full-time score: Durham Women 0-5 Birmingham City Women
First-Half Goals Give Birmingham City Women Control
Birmingham City Women made their advantage count during the opening 45 minutes, scoring twice to establish a strong position heading into the interval.
Veatriki Sarri Opens the Scoring
The breakthrough arrived in the 28th minute when Veatriki Sarri found the net, finishing an opportunity created by Wilma Leidhammar. The goal gave Birmingham the lead and provided the platform for the visitors to build on their performance.
Six minutes later, Birmingham doubled their advantage. Leidhammar got on the scoresheet herself in the 34th minute, with Marie Levasseur providing the assist.
The two goals ensured that the Blues went into half-time with a 2-0 advantage, leaving Durham with work to do after the restart.
Second-Half Changes Bring Fresh Energy
Birmingham made three substitutions at the start of the second half. Shannon Cooke, Lily Crosthwaite and Lily Jaynes entered the game, replacing Neve Herron, Marie Levasseur and Geum-Min Lee.
The visitors maintained their advantage before finding the net three times in the closing stages. The additional goals turned a comfortable lead into an emphatic away victory.
Chelsea Cornet and Lily Crosthwaite Extend the Lead
Chelsea Cornet made it 3-0 in the 78th minute, converting after Sarri supplied the assist.
Just two minutes later, Crosthwaite added Birmingham’s fourth goal. Scoring in the 80th minute after coming on at half-time, she further strengthened the visitors’ position.
Sarri Completes Her Brace as Blues Score Five
Sarri completed the scoring in the 90th minute, finding the net for the second time in the match. Lisa Fjeldstad Naalsund provided the assist for the forward’s late goal.
The final whistle confirmed a 5-0 victory for Birmingham City Women, who scored twice in the first half and three times after the break.
A Positive Result Ahead of League Action
The cup victory followed Birmingham’s 1-1 draw away to Arsenal in the Barclays Women’s Super League on 17 October.
Against Durham, five goals and a clean sheet provided a positive outcome for Merricks’ side. Sarri’s brace was a particular highlight, while Leidhammar, Cornet and Crosthwaite also contributed to the scoreline.
Attention now turns to league action, with Charlton Athletic due to visit St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Sunday, 25 October, for Birmingham’s next Women’s Super League fixture.
The Blues will look to take confidence from this convincing cup performance into their upcoming home match.
Final Score and Goalscorers
Durham Women 0-5 Birmingham City Women
- 28th minute: Veatriki Sarri
- 34th minute: Wilma Leidhammar
- 78th minute: Chelsea Cornet
- 80th minute: Lily Crosthwaite
- 90th minute: Veatriki Sarri
Keep Right On.
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