Leeds beats West Ham in penalty shootout to reach FA Cup semifinals for first time since 1987

LONDON — Leeds United survived a dramatic late collapse and two extra-time scares before edging West Ham United 4-2 on penalties at London Stadium on Sunday, booking a place in the FA Cup semifinals for the first time since 1987.

Daniel Farke’s side appeared to be cruising when Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck to build a 2-0 lead, only for Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi to score in the 93rd and 96th minutes and drag the tie into extra time.

The Hammers thought they had completed the turnaround moments into the additional 30 minutes when Taty Castellanos rounded Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri and finished, but VAR intervened to disallow the goal for offside. Jarrod Bowen later rattled the crossbar and saw a rebound effort from Pablo ruled out for the same offence.

With penalties looming, West Ham introduced 20-year-old debutant goalkeeper Finlay Herrick for Alphonse Areola, who required treatment with five minutes of extra time remaining. Herrick immediately denied Joel Piroe from the spot, yet Leeds converted their remaining attempts and clinched victory when defender Pascal Struijk hammered home the decisive kick.

Farke praised his team’s resilience and poked fun at the club’s long wait for a last-four appearance. “At least I’m old enough that I was already born when there was the last semifinal for Leeds United in the FA Cup in the '80s,” he said. “It was a crazy game.”

The closing stages were played in front of swathes of empty seats after thousands of home supporters headed for the exits, missing the frenetic finale and shootout. West Ham had briefly considered holding the shootout at the opposite end from the travelling Leeds support because of reported safety concerns, but the club reversed the decision following criticism.

Hammers manager Nuno Espírito Santo preferred to focus on his players’ spirit. “What I saw on the pitch was more important than anything,” he said. “A group of boys that didn’t give up. This is the major lesson that we have to take from today.”

Leeds, currently battling relegation in the Premier League, will face Chelsea in a rematch of the 1970 final at Wembley on April 25-26, while Manchester City meets second-tier Southampton in the other semifinal.

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