Speaker 1: English Championship side Birmingham City rounded off their pre season
campaign in dramatic fashion by defeating Spanish Titans FC Barcelona
three to two in a penalty shootout following a posset
pounding two to two draw at a sold out Saint
Andrew's Nighthead Park. The match carried extra magic in the
stands as Real Madrid midfielder and former Birmingham Academy graduate
Jude Bellingham returned to his boyhood club donning of blues jersey.
The twenty three year old superstar watched enthusiastically alongside co
owner Tom Brady, joining thirty thousand passionate supporters as Chris
Davies side produced an unforgettable performance against Hungxy Flick's Catalan Giants.
Birmingham broke the deadlock in the thirty first minute when
striker August Prisk rose above Barcelona defender Joffer Torrents to
turn home Alex Cochrane's curling delivery. Barcelona responded ten minutes
later as eighteen year old Egyptian international Hamsat abdol Kareem
one and converted a penalty kick to send the sides
into halftime level at one to one. ABDA Kareem struck
again on the hour mark, capitalizing on a loose rebound
inside the box to put Barcelona ahead. However, Birmingham showed
immense resilience as new six million pounds signing Han Soli's
fired past substitute keeper Aaron Jakobishfieli from Christoph Clara's knockdown
to restore parody at two to two. With neither side
able to break the deadlock late in regulation, despite Cochrane
rattling the crossbar for the Blues, the exhibition proceeded directly
to a penalty shootout. Online goalkeeper James Beadle proved to
be the hero of the evening, denying Rooney Bargie and
Brian Farinas from twelve yards out to secure a three
to two shootout triumph for Birmingham. The victory marks Birmingham's
sixth win of their summer schedule, delivering an immense wave
of momentum ahead of their upcoming EFL Cup match against
Swansea City and their Championship season opener, while giving Ellingham
plenty to celebrate from the stands.