Spurred on by their vociferous travelling supporters, Birmingham City FC found a winner in the tenth minute of added time to take all three points against Club Brugge KV in UEFA Europa League Group H. The first half ended all-square after David Murphy answered Joseph Akpala\'s early strike. Previously unbeaten at home against English opposition in UEFA competition, Club Brugge pressed hard in the second half but were undone at the end by substitute Chris Wood\'s confident close-range strike. Club Brugge caught the Birmingham defence napping with a goal in the third minute after Nabil Dirar picked out Nigerian forward Akpala with a cross from the right. Birmingham pushed on in response, with Murphy and Keith Fahey taking increasingly advanced positions to supplement Nikola Žigi?\'s aerial power, and the English side equalised on 26 minutes, Murphy getting in behind the defenders to convert a stinging Wade Elliott cross. Murphy\'s fine free-kick six minutes later brought an acrobatic save from Club Brugge goalkeeper Colin Coosemans and, a minute before half-time, in-form Vadis Odjidja fired a spectacular long-range effort that grazed Boaz Myhill\'s left-hand upright. Birmingham started the second half brightly, and while Žigi? failed to convert a free header on the hour mark, the arrival of substitutes Wood and Marlon King in the 73rd minute seemed to suggest that Blues manager Chris Hughton felt this game was there for the winning. Eight minutes from the end, a clash of heads between Akpala and Pablo Ibáñez meant both players were given lengthy medical attention. While Birmingham\'s Spanish defender was taken off as a result, the Blues kept their composure and seized all three points when Wood beat Ryan Donk to King\'s cross and fired into the top corner.
GMT 22:55 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Manchester United retain world's richest club statusGMT 05:19 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Man City midfielder Fernandinho signs contract extension to 2020GMT 13:46 2018 Friday ,19 January
Borussia Dortmund deny contact with Arsenal for Pierre-Emerick AubameyangGMT 13:38 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Chelsea edge into FA Cup fourth round, Bournemouth rockedGMT 10:38 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Arsenal 'target' Malcom faces rap over videoGMT 07:49 2018 Tuesday ,16 January
Football: Giggs set to be named as Wales bossGMT 07:08 2018 Monday ,15 January
Sevilla let Real off hook with Alaves defeatGMT 07:02 2018 Saturday ,13 January
Everton in talks to sign Arsenal's WalcottMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor