Leeds beat West Ham in shoot-out to reach FA Cup semis for first time in 39 years

London – Leeds United booked a place in the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1987 after edging West Ham United 4-2 on penalties following a breathtaking 2-2 draw at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Daniel Farke’s Championship promotion-chasers looked to have sealed a routine passage when Ao Tanaka’s deflected first-half strike and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 75th-minute penalty put them two goals to the good. Yet the Hammers, mired in their own relegation worries, produced a rousing stoppage-time revival as Mateus Fernandes prodded home after Jarrod Bowen rattled the woodwork and Axel Disasi volleyed in Adama Traoré’s inviting cross in the 11th minute of added time.

Extra time could not separate the sides, forcing a shoot-out that quickly tilted Leeds’ way. Lucas Perri, the Brazilian goalkeeper signed to provide cup cover, plunged low to deny Bowen on West Ham’s opening kick and then thwarted Pablo Fornals in the third round of attempts. Although Joel Piroe saw Alphonse Areola’s deputy, 20-year-old debutant Finlay Herrick, keep out Leeds’ first effort, Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto and Pascal Struijk all converted to spark delirious scenes among 9,000 travelling fans housed behind the goal.

The victory continues Leeds’ cup knack for late drama; they also eliminated Birmingham City on spot-kicks in round four. It also ends a 39-year wait for a last-four appearance, dating back to their 1987 defeat to eventual winners Coventry City at Hillsborough.

Farke praised his side’s composure after the late psychological blow. “We always do it the tough way, never the easy way,” the German said. “To keep the nerves and win the penalty shoot-out shows great mentality and character. It’s a chapter of Leeds history.”

Leeds will face Chelsea at Wembley later in April, seeking a first FA Cup triumph since 1972 and a maiden competitive win at the national stadium since the 1992 Charity Shield. Their recent Wembley record offers caution: defeats in the 1996 League Cup final, 2008 League One play-off final and last season’s Championship play-off final.

For West Ham, the exit compounds a fraught campaign. Nuno Espírito Santo rested five starters with Friday’s relegation six-pointer against bottom club Wolves in mind, yet the manner of defeat will sting. The Hammers remain third-bottom, one point behind fourth-bottom Tottenham with seven league games left. A potential survival showdown looms on the final day when Leeds return to the London Stadium for a fixture that could decide both clubs’ top-flight futures.

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