Lucas Perri Emerges as Leeds United’s FA Cup Hero in Dramatic Birmingham Shootout
Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri reclaimed his status as a key figure at Elland Road on Sunday, proving to be the difference-maker as Leeds United edged out Birmingham City in a high-stakes penalty shootout.
The 28-year-old has endured a challenging period in West Yorkshire, facing heavy criticism and eventually losing his starting position to Karl Darlow. With his future at the club frequently questioned in recent months, the FA Cup clash at St Andrews’ offered a rare opportunity for redemption.
Handed his first start since early January, Perri delivered a commanding performance over 120 minutes before taking center stage in the final tie-breaker. While Patrick Roberts missed his effort for Leeds, Perri’s crucial save from Tommy Doyle set the stage for Sean Longstaff to step up and secure the victory for the Whites.
The Kit Confusion: A Bizarre Shootout Obstacle
While modern goalkeepers famously rely on data-heavy water bottles and video analysis, Perri revealed after the match that his meticulous preparation was nearly rendered useless by Birmingham City’s attire.
The Blues were wearing a minimalist anniversary kit that featured no numbers on the shorts. This lack of clear branding left the Leeds keeper struggling to identify which player was stepping up to the spot.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle, Perri admitted:
“We had a video, but for the first two penalties, because they don’t have numbers on their shorts, it was difficult for me to see. For the third, we didn’t know exactly where he would shoot, so I just went on instinct.”
Ultimately, his natural reflexes proved superior to the missing data, allowing him to pull off the match-winning stop.
High Praise from the Dressing Room
The victory has silenced talk of a potential January exit, justifying manager Daniel Farke’s decision to keep the former Lyon man in the squad. The bond between Perri and his teammates was evident in the post-match celebrations, with goal-scorer Sean Longstaff quick to credit the keeper for the result.
“I thought Lucas was excellent today,” Longstaff remarked. “He was massive in there, not just in the shootout, but the whole game. He made two or three massive saves, and we ground out a result. I’m really happy for Lucas because it’s been a bit up and down, and he deserves it today.”
A Turning Point for the Number One?
After a rollercoaster first six months in LS11, this “massive” shift at St Andrews’ could signal a fresh start for Perri. With Leeds looking to build momentum in the second half of the season, his heroics against Birmingham may be exactly what he—and the club—needed to restore confidence in the goalkeeping department.
