Birmingham storm into final

Birmingham celebrate Grainger's opener

Worthington Cup semi-final, 2nd leg
Birmingham 4-1 Ipswich
(Birmingham win 4-2 on aggregate)

Extra-time goals from Geoff Horsfield and Andy Johnson booked Birmingham's trip to Cardiff in the Worthington Cup final as the First Division outfit humbled Ipswich.

Horsfield scored twice as he proved a constant menace to the Ipswich defence and Johnson capitalised on an error by Richard Wright to seal the tie three minutes from the end of added time.

Martin Grainger had raised Birmingham hopes at the end of the first half levelling the tie.

Horsfield then put the St Andrews side in front on aggregate but James Scowcroft immediately replied to put Ipswich back in the ascendancy.

However, Horsfield again, and then Johnson settled proceedings in extra-time to book a final place against Liverpool.

  Key moments

43 mins: Grainger heads in from close range after mix-up between Croft and Wright

56 mins: Horsfield makes it 2-0 on the night

57 mins: Substitute Scowcroft nets from six yards to level the tie

103 mins: Sonner plays in Horsfield to put Birmingham in control

117 mins: Wright's error presents Andy Johnson with a fourth goal for Birmingham

Birmingham promised Ipswich a hot reception at St Andrews and that is exactly what Trevor Francis' side and their supporters provided.

The home side made a bright start and Adebola blasted over early on from a tight angle.

Richard Naylor was booked for a foul on Darren Purse before George Burley's side settled and went close as a Mark Venus downward header was cleared off the line by Jerry Gill.

The Suffolk side should have taken the lead on the night when Hreidarsson, on an excursion upfield, exchanged passes with Stewart but with just Bennett to beat dragged his shot wide.

Scowcroft netted Ipswich's away goal

Birmingham then had two appeals for penalties waved away by referee Winter in quick succession.

But they gained reward for their first half performance as Grainger netted the all-important leveller two minutes before the break.

Ipswich introduced James Scowcroft in place of Naylor at the start of the second half as they sought to gain more control of the ball in advanced areas.

Horsfield's strike on 56 minutes then momentarily gave the home side the advantage only for Scowcroft to cancel that out within a minute.

The substitute's strike also provided Ipswich with an away goal and soon after he headed a Clapham free-kick just wide as the visitors gained the upper hand.

But in a classic cup tie the game continued to swing from end to end.

Horsfield struck the bar for Birmingham and then saw an acrobatic effort fly straight at Wright before Sonner side-footed a great opportunity wide against his former club.

Horsfield went close again but neither side could settle the tie prior to the extra-time drama.

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Birmingham: Bennett, Gill, Purse, Michael Johnson, Grainger, Eaden, O'Connor, Sonner, Lazaridis, Horsfield, Adebola.
Subs: Poole, Burrows, Hughes, Ndlovu, Andrew Johnson.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Croft, McGreal, Venus, Hreidarsson, Jermaine Wright, Holland, Magilton, Clapham, Stewart, Naylor.
Subs: Branagan, Karic, Brown, Scowcroft, Reuser.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)