Birmingham City Women beat Sunderland 3-1 at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Wednesday 11 November, with Rebecca Holloway and Wilma Leidhammar scoring after half-time to settle the Subway Players Cup tie. The win came three days after Blues’ 4-1 league defeat at London City Lionesses and gave home supporters three goals on the club’s dedicated Remembrance matchday.
Crosthwaite opens the scoring before Parker replies
Blues went ahead in the 40th minute. Chelsea Cornet set up Lily Crosthwaite, who struck with her left foot from outside the area and found the bottom corner. Sunderland drew level four minutes later through Ella Parker, who had a shot saved by Lucy Thomas in the same minute before finding the net from inside the box.
Amy Merricks made three changes at the interval with the sides level. Leidhammar took over from Crosthwaite, Shannon Cooke replaced Millie Turner and Lily Jaynes came on for Lisa Naalsund. Sunderland had chances to take the lead after the restart. Thomas saved from Parker again and kept out a Chloe Paxton header on the hour, just before Merricks made another change.
Blues’ bench helps decide the tie
Rebecca McKenna replaced Marie Levasseur in the 61st minute and supplied the pass for the goal that put Birmingham back in front eight minutes later. Holloway took the shot from the left side of the area, sending it across goal with her right foot and into the far bottom corner.
The two players introduced at the interval combined for Birmingham’s third. Leidhammar had already put an effort over the bar when Blues won a corner in the 81st minute. A minute later, Cooke supplied the assist and Leidhammar headed into the top corner from the middle of the box. That gave Birmingham a two-goal cushion heading into the closing stages after spending much of the second half with the game in the balance.
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