Birmingham City striker Kyogo Furuhashi has finally broken his scoring duck, netting for the first time in five months during a dramatic 3-2 FA Cup victory away at Cambridge United.
A Long-Awaited Moment of Relief
The Japanese forward, who had not found the net since August, ended his barren run in style on a difficult night at the Abbey Stadium. His crucial second-half strike came from sheer persistence, as he stole the ball from Cambridge defender Zeno Ibsen Rossi before sprinting clear and slotting a calm finish past goalkeeper Jake Eastwood.
Blues boss Chris Davies was full of praise for his summer marquee signing's contribution. "He was really good tonight," Davies said. "The second goal is all about Kyogo. He made it for himself by chasing a lost cause, nicked it, and then a big touch out of his feet and takes his goal well."
The manager highlighted the emotional significance of the goal for the entire club. "You can see the reaction from all the players, himself, the fans, the staff, everyone. Everyone is chuffed for him and it meant a lot to him."
Davies Issues Challenge After Cup Boost
Despite the cup joy, a significant challenge remains for the 30-year-old. Kyogo is still waiting for his first Championship goal, having failed to score in 23 league appearances this season, though only seven of those were starts.
Davies has now openly challenged the striker to use this moment as a springboard, hoping it ignites his confidence in front of goal. "For Kyogo, it's goals and confidence," the manager added. "He will take a lot from that goal. He's got a lot of backing. The fans have been great with him."
Addressing the striker's overall play, Davies noted: "He works hard, he's quick, he always gets a chance. We have just got to hope now that he takes those more consistently. He has our full support to do it." The comments come after midweek speculation about a return to Celtic was firmly dismissed by both clubs involved.
A Tense Cup Encounter Sealed
Kyogo's goal on 10 January 2026 was the crucial middle strike in a five-goal thriller. Kai Wagner had opened the scoring for Birmingham, with Marvin Ducksch adding a third after Kyogo's effort.
Cambridge United's Sullay Kaikai scored a late brace to ensure a nervy finish, but Blues held on to secure their passage. Reflecting on the match, Davies acknowledged the testing conditions. "It was difficult conditions. It's one of those nights where it wasn't going to be too fluid because of the conditions but we got ourselves in a great position and had an unnecessary stressful finish. That's the FA Cup for you."
The win builds on a positive result from the previous week, with Davies emphasising the importance of momentum. "We won last week and today was about continuing that and getting that winning feeling on the bus back to Birmingham." All eyes will now be on whether Kyogo Furuhashi can carry his cup form into the relentless schedule of the Championship.
