Leeds pip West Ham on penalties in FA Cup classic to reach first semi-final for 39 years — Independent 5/4/26

West Ham 2-2 Leeds a.e.t (2-4 on penalties): Lucas Perri was the hero as Leeds reached the last four in dramatic fashion

Andy Sims

Leeds reached an FA Cup semi-final for the first time in 39 years – but only via a penalty shootout after they blew a two-goal lead in stoppage time.

Thousands of West Ham fans left early as the clock ticked round to 90 minutes after goals from Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Leeds 2-0 up.

But those who left prematurely missed a cast-iron cup classic, starting with an astonishing comeback as goals from Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi forced a 2-2 draw and extra time.

They also missed 20-year-old fourth-choice goalkeeper Finlay Herrick thrown on for his debut in the shootout after Alphonse Areola went down injured at the death.

Herrick saved the first spot-kick from Joel Piroe, but Leeds keeper Lucas Perri denied Jarrod Bowen and Pablo to send Leeds through 4-2 on penalties.

There was controversy after Leeds were told the shootout could not be taken in front of their fans due to "safety concerns".

But the visitors shrugged that off to book a trip to Wembley for a first FA Cup semi-final since 1987, and a meeting with Chelsea.

“It feels great,” shootout hero Perri said to TNT Sports. “It is the magic of the cup that we all talk about. It was a crazy game with incredible moments, and we are so happy that we won at the end of the shootout. Now we will celebrate and keep going.

“We needed to be prepared for everything. I was able to keep my head in place and keep focused on the game, and I’m so happy we won the match.”

With both these teams knee deep in the Premier League relegation scrap, there were suggestions this match was an unwanted distraction. Not so, as it turned out.

A frenetic encounter began when Leeds deservedly went ahead in the 26th minute, Noah Okafor and James Justin combining to set up Tanaka.

The Japan international showed quick feet in a crowded penalty area, turning Soungoutou Magassa before drilling in a low shot which flicked off Hammers defender Disasi and looped in over Areola.

Six minutes later West Ham had a lucky escape after Leeds broke forward and Okafor played in Anton Stach, whose shot was saved by Areola.

Stach was on the end of a clumsy, late challenge from Max Kilman after he had got his shot away.

VAR took a long look at the tackle but decided not to award a penalty, even though Stach was unable to continue.

West Ham pushed in the second half and Taty Castellanos met Adoma Traore's cross with a diving header which struck the far post.

They had Leeds penned in - but then Kilman stepped in again. The £40m centre-half launched into another ill-advised tackle in the area, this time on Brenden Aaronson.

The ball was there to be won, but somehow Kilman still managed to miss it completely and take the Leeds substitute out.

This time referee Craig Pawson was sent to the screen before awarding the penalty and booking Kilman before Calvert-Lewin confidently converted the spot-kick.

But West Ham pulled one back in stoppage time when Fernandes converted the rebound after Bowen's shot came back off the far post.

Then Disasi prodded in Traore's cross to drag the Hammers level, despite Leeds' protests that his high boot caught Pascal Struijk.

The thousands of West Ham fans who had left early were trying, and failing, to get back in when Castellanos thought he had put them ahead in the opening seconds of extra time after a bad error from Perri, only for VAR to rule him offside.

Then Bowen crashed a shot again the crossbar, with Pablo offside when he rolled in the rebound.

Areola went down injured with five minutes of extra time remaining, leaving Herrick to take centre stage, but it was Perri who proved to be the hero as Leeds landed their date with Chelsea at Wembley.

It is a fixture that will evoke memories of the 1970 FA Cup final, among the most famous and physical games in English football history.

Settled in extra time of the second leg at Old Trafford, Chelsea prevailed 2-1 in Manchester after a 2-2 draw at Wembley in a brutal encounter as David Webb headed home the winner late on.

In the other semi-final, Championship side Southampton’s reward for knocking out Arsenal is to take on another Premier League title hopeful in Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side thrashed Liverpool to reach the last four and are the favourites for the competition as they chase a possible domestic treble.