Baek Seung-ho (27, Birmingham City) was substituted out due to injury. It was just 5 minutes into the match.
Birmingham City lost 1-2 to Middlesbrough in the 16th-round away match of the 2025-2026 EFL Championship (second division) at Riverside Stadium in England on the 9th (Korea time).
Birmingham, who left with a disappointing result away from home, faced bad news from the start of the match.
As soon as the game began, Baek Seung-ho collapsed. In the 1st minute of the first half, Baek Seung-ho complained of pain during a challenge for the ball with Middlesbrough's Liry McGree and ultimately could not get up.
Medical staff rushed onto the field, and Baek Seung-ho left the pitch shortly after. He was substituted by Mark Leonard after 5 minutes.
Baek Seung-ho's early substitution was a big blow to Birmingham. Losing control of the midfield, Birmingham struggled all through the first half under Middlesbrough's intense pressure. Middlesbrough took the lead in the 17th minute of the first half with Dale Fry's opening goal, and Birmingham responded when Demarai Gray scored an equalizer in the 29th minute, but they fell behind again in first-half stoppage time with Hayden Hackney's winning goal.
In the second half Birmingham tried to change the momentum with substitution cards, but there was no decisive strike. They pressed until the final stages of the second half but could not break through Middlesbrough's defense and finished the match 1-2.
Baek Seung-ho's injury on the day is also bad news for the national team. With Hwang In-beom recently sidelined by injury, Baek Seung-ho's collapse increases concerns for Hong Myung-bo's squad ahead of the November international call-up.
Baek Seung-ho has been a key midfielder for Birmingham this season and has been appearing regularly. But this injury makes it more likely that his return to the national team will be put on hold.
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