Birmingham City edged past Sheffield United 2-1 in the first round of the English Football League Cup on August 14, 2025. The match, kicking off at 3:00 AM at St Andrew's, saw the Championship side secure a hard-fought victory over their fellow second-tier opponents to progress in the competition. Birmingham started brightly, taking an early lead inside the first 15 minutes through a well-worked team move finished by their striker. Sheffield United responded with pressure and found an equalizer just before halftime, setting up a tense second half. The decisive moment came in the 75th minute when Birmingham won a penalty, which was calmly converted to regain the lead. The home side then managed the game effectively, seeing out the final stages to claim the win. This result gives Birmingham a positive start to their cup campaign and a potential boost in confidence for the early league season, while Sheffield United will be disappointed to exit the competition at the first hurdle.