Leeds United long-serving man's forever memory, 'safety' decree and off-camera West Ham FA Cup moments — YEP 6/4/26

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By Graham Smyth

The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s incredible FA Cup quarter-final at West Ham.

Leeds United are going to Wembley after a madcap FA Cup quarter-final win over West Ham United.

The Whites threatened to throw away a glorious chance to make some history, squandering a two-goal lead, before holding their nerve to win it on spot-kicks. Here's the YEP take.

Good day

Pascal Struijk

The defender has been at Leeds for eight years so if anyone in the dressing room knows what this means, it's him. The pressure was on him for that deciding spot-kick and though he evidently didn't mean to hit the post, he found the net to put his club in the FA Cup semi-final. The shootout and subsequent history achieved rendered worthwhile the joy-to-despair journey he and his team-mates went on in this quarter-final. And that moment, running to the away end, will live with him forever.

Lucas Perri

We can talk about the wobble, because there was one, but he made some really important saves during the game and then came up big in the shootout. Again. For the second time in this cup run he was a dominant force when it came to spot-kicks. Winners write history, so his ballooned header and offside let-off will fade, while his heroics live on.

Daniel Farke

They did it the hard way, so needlessly, but they did it. Yet again the German has led the club to a piece of history and he will now lead them out at Wembley against Chelsea.

Bad day

Joel Piroe

The forward was brought on for the second half of extra-time but failed to make much of an impact. He then stepped up for the first of the penalties and despite being known as such an ice-cold taker, produced one of his worst efforts. His team-mates got him off the hook.

Officiating

Another Leeds United game, another bout of mental gymnastics to work out quite how decisions were reached. Anton Stach was chopped down, late, after shooting in the box and there was no foul given - not by Craig Pawson or by VAR. Lukas Nmecha slid in late a few minutes later and it was a free-kick and a yellow card. There was also a decent case for a free-kick to be awarded instead of West Ham's second goal, given the height of Disasi's boot and its proximity to Struijk's face.

West Ham's safety team

Quite why they deemed it less safe to have penalties taken at the away end will probably forever remain a mystery. Someone at least saw sense and backed down, after Leeds made their feelings known, and there was a genuine coin toss to decide the location of the spot-kicks.

Off-camera

Bemused looks on the faces of Leeds staff in the press room after they were informed the Hammers' safety team had determined it wouldn't be safe for penalties to take place in front of the away end.

Both Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor finding the top corner with their final warm-up shots past Karl Darlow before jogging off for their sprints.

Jaka Bijol holding up an apologetic hand after going for the Hollywood pass rather than the simple one and giving the ball away.

Leeds fans turning their back to the play to mark Monday's anniversary of the deaths of Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight.

Bijol telling Ethan Ampadu and others to calm down after a frenetic minute towards the end of the first half.

Sebastiaan Bornauw cheekily telling Ethan Ampadu that he needed to get more height on his long distance strikes after forcing a good save and then watching his skipper hit the first defender with his own shot.

Anton Stach appearing in the technical area in the extra-time interval in a protective boot and using crutches.

Keeper coach Ed Wootten running out to the touchline to pass a message to Bornauw as 20-year-old keeper Finlay Herrick came on.

A bewildered-looking Joel Piroe trudging off in discussion with a club security guy after his penalty shootout blushes were spared by his team-mates.

Daniel Farke waving and saluting Eddie Gray in the directors' box as he came off.

Jermaine Beckford having a moment with Ethan Ampadu.

A delighted gaggle of Leeds directors and officials, including Pete Lowy, heading past the mixed zone all looking 10 years older than when they arrived at the stadium.

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