Report, result, goals, full shootout as Struijk’s ‘perfect’ penalty decides ‘surprising’ FA Cup quarter-final

Pascal Struijk’s penalty winner sent Leeds United into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1987, beating a West Ham United side who scored twice after 90 minutes to force extra-time in a rare game at the London Stadium.

Ao Tanaka’s 26th-minute goal and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s penalty with 15 minutes remaining put Leeds in control before Mateus Fernandes replied in the 93rd minute and Axel Disasi equalized for the Hammers three minutes later.

West Ham had two goals disallowed in extra time, with Lucas Perri – Leeds’ hero in their penalty shootout win at Birmingham in the fourth round – making saves from Jarrod Bowen and Pablo.

West Ham substitute goalkeeper Fin Herrick saved from Joel Piroe’s first shot, with Kyle Walker-Peters and Tomas Soucek converting for the hosts and Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson and Wilfried Gnonto also scoring for Leeds.

Daniel Farke’s side will meet Chelsea in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium on April 25 or 26, while West Ham will spend the remainder of their season focused on their bid to escape the top flight.

West Ham vs Leeds: Struijk sends the Whites to Wembley

Both goalkeepers showed good moments in the first half, with Alphonse Areola tipping over Leeds striker Noah Okafor after a curling shot and denying Anton Stach on his own, with a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check ruling that Max Kilman had not fouled Stach as he tried to slide in for an intervention.

Brazilian Perri produced an exceptional save to keep out Tety Castellanos at close range and push away Bowen’s drive, creating a sensation for Leeds when Tanaka started and finished off a move that culminated in the midfielder opening the scoring inside the box.

Tanaka has not started a Premier League game since December, the month he netted against Chelsea and scored a last-minute equalizer in a 3-3 draw with Liverpool as part of the result that lifted Leeds from the relegation zone.

The Japanese international featured in his country’s wins over Scotland and England during the international break and Tanaka continued to make a memorable fortnight when he crashed into the box and showed excellent footwork to create space and fire between Diasi and the crossbar.

Castellanos almost equalized by heading home Adamu Traore’s cross in the 62nd minute, but the Premier League’s sixth-bottom side doubled their lead through substitute Calvert-Lewin after Kilman was adjudged to have fouled Aaronson.

VAR was also required for a Leeds penalty, with Craig Pawson consulting his sideline keeper and booking Kilman as part of a sequence that left Leeds fans looking forward to overcoming any memories of their last final, when they lost after extra time to Coventry City at Hillsborough.

West Ham’s fierce comeback attempt began when Nunes caught his breath to control the ball on his knee and find the net unguarded on the rebound after Bowen collected an angled pass from inside the box, moved out of the area to create an angle and hit the inside of the far post.

Diasi met Traore’s inviting ball with a big boot – the goal was awarded following a check – for an equaliser, which gave West Ham the momentum they took into extra time, where Castellanos had a goal disallowed for offside after Perri ill-advised to attempt a header rather than a long ball.

Walker-Peters and Soucek then cleared the line in quick succession and, after Perri saved from Castellanos from close range, Pablo was ruled offside, deflecting another Bowen long-range shot onto the post.

Part of West Ham’s inexperienced bench, 20-year-old Herrick came on for the injured Areola deep into the second half of extra time, earning huge cheers from the home fans with his first touch and setting up a fairytale that almost came true.

“I’ve never had the chance to play at Wembley for a team before so I’m excited”

Dominic Calvert-Lewin fires Leeds into FA Cup semi-finals 🙌

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Analysis: Struijk’s ‘perfect’ penalty puts Leeds through

Leeds have impressed since their difficult start to the season following promotion and Farke has backed his “special” and “exceptional” team to return the club to Wembley, where they lost the Championship final to Southampton under his leadership in 2024.

“That’s a perfect penalty,” former Scotland striker Ally McCoist told TNT Sports of Struijk’s decisive kick, which went wide of the post.

“No goalkeeper in the world can save that. It’s almost too comfortable to get off your foot.

“What a game, what a tournament. The game was very impressive. One of those games that you will be talking about for a long time.

“I had everything. I was expecting this young goalkeeper to come out and win for West Ham, but it didn’t happen.”

Farke paid the price for playing a strong side, and Joe Rodon was forced off with an injury after Stach was pulled back by a challenge from Kilman, who reappeared on crutches.

“Just look at what it means to those fans, the FA Cup,” former West Ham striker Dean Ashton told TalkSport after Calvert-Lewin scored on his return from duty in England.

“They were very happy. It was very cool for Calvert-Lewin. He stood up with his chest puffed up and blasted us into the corner.”

West Ham vs Leeds United team

Defenders Konstantinos Mavropanos (contusion) and Jean-Clair Todibo (calf) are injured for West Ham, who made five changes from their 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa on March 22.

Areola, Walker-Peters and Kilman, defender or midfielder Soungoutou Magassa and winger Traore came in.

Wideman Crysencio Summerville missed with a calf problem.

Saucek and Pablo moved to the bench. Mavropanos, Mads Hermansen and Aaron Wan-Bissaka started against Villa but were not in the squad, while striker Callum Wilson, who came off the bench in that game, also did not take part.

West Ham United starting XI: Alphonse Areola, Kyle Walker-Peters, Maximilian Kilman, Axel Disasi, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Freddie Potts, Soungoutou Magassa, Mateus Fernandes, Jarrod Bowen, Adama Traore, Valentin Castellanos

West Ham instead: Finlay Herrick, Pablo, Keiber Lamadrid, Tomas Soucek, Ollie Scarles, Mohamadou Kante, Airidas Golambeckis, Ezra Mayers, Joshua Ajala

Leeds vs West Ham United team

Leeds made three changes from their 0-0 draw at home to Brentford on March 21, bringing on goalkeeper Perri alongside Tanaka and Okafor.

Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson and Karl Darlow moved to the bench. Forward Calvert-Lewin and Okafor were doubtful with hamstring problems.

Left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson was thought to be in contention for a return from suspension but suffered a knock during his time in Sweden.

Leeds United starting XI: Lucas Perri, Jayden Bogle, James Justin, Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach, Ao Tanaka, Noah Okafor, Lukas Nmecha

Leeds instead of: Karl Darlow, Sam Byram, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Sean Longstaff, Ilia Gruev, Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto, Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin