Report, result, goals, full shootout as ‘perfect’ Struijk penalty decides ‘absolutely remarkable’ FA Cup quarter final

Pascal Struijk’s winning penalty in a shootout sent Leeds United to the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1987 with victory against a West Ham United side who scored twice after the 90th minute to force extra time in an extraordinary tie at the London Stadium.

Ao Tanaka’s 26th-minute strike and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s penalty 15 minutes from time put Leeds in control before Mateus Fernandes replied in the 93rd minute and Axel Disasi drew the Hammers level three minutes later.

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

Debutant West Ham substitute goalkeeper Fin Herrick saved from Joel Piroe in the opening attempt of the shootout, 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 team 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 entirely focused on their attempt to escape the top-flight relegation zone.

West Ham vs Leeds: Struijk sends Whites to Wembley

Both goalkeepers displayed moments of brilliance during the first half, when Alphonse Areola tipped Leeds forward Noah Okafor’s curling shot behind and denied Anton Stach in a one-on-one, with a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check deciding Max Kilman had not fouled Stach with a sliding attempt to intervene.

Brazil international Perri produced an exceptional save to thwart Tety Castellanos from close range and pushed Bowen’s drive away, making it all the sweeter for Leeds when Tanaka started and finished the move that culminated in the midfielder opening the scoring from inside the box.

Tanaka has not started a Premier League match since December, the month in which he netted in a win over Chelsea and scored a last-gasp equaliser in a 3-3 draw against Liverpool as part of a run of results that moved Leeds clear of the relegation zone.

The Japan international featured in his country’s wins against Scotland and England during the international break and Tanaka’s memorable fortnight continued when he charged inside the box and showed supreme footwork to create space and fire in via Disasi and the crossbar.

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

VAR was again required for Leeds’ penalty, Craig Pawson consulting his pitchside monitor and booking Kilman as part of a sequence that ended with Leeds fans looking forward to a chance to vanquish any memories of their last semi-final appearance, when they lost after extra time against Coventry City at Hillsborough.

West Ham’s sensational comeback attempt began when Nunes kept his composure to control the ball on his knee and find an unguarded net from the rebound after Bowen had collecting a pass from an angle inside the box, shifted outside the area to fashion an angle and hit the inside of the far post.

Disasi met Traore’s inviting cross with a high boot – the goal ruled valid following a check – to equalise, giving West Ham a momentum they took into extra time, in which Castellanos had a goal ruled out for offside after Perri unfathomably decided to attempt a misjudged headed clearance rather than catch a long ball.

Walker-Peters and Soucek then cleared off the line in quick succession and, after Perri saved from Castellanos at close quarters, Pablo had a goal disallowed for offside, having turned in the rebound after another long-range Bowen shot hit a post.

Part of an inexperienced West Ham bench, 20-year-old Herrick replaced the injured Areola deep into the second half of extra time, receiving ample cheers from the home fans on his first touch and setting the scene for a fairytale that almost became reality.

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

Dominic Calvert-Lewin reacts to Leeds progressing to the FA Cup semi-final 🙌

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

Leeds have impressed since a difficult start to the season following promotion and Farke had backed his “special” and “unique” group to take the club back to Wembley, where they lost the Championship play-off final to Southampton under his leadership in 2024.

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

“There’s no way any keeper on the planet is saving that. It’s probably a little close for comfort when it leaves your foot.

“What a game. What a cup tie. The drama was absolutely remarkable. One of those games you’ll be talking about for a long, long time.

“It had it all. I half-expected the young goalkeeper to come on and win it for West Ham, but it wasn’t to be.”

Farke paid a certain price for fielding a strong team, with Joe Rodon forced off through injury after Stach had hobbled off because of that Kilman challenge, reappearing on crutches.

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

“They’re ecstatic. It was so cool from Calvert-Lewin. He stepped up with puff of his chest and whipped it into the corner.”

West Ham team vs Leeds United

Defenders Konstantinos Mavropanos (concussion) and Jean-Clair Todibo (calf) were 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 out with a calf problem.

Soucek 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 had come off the bench in that game, also not involved.

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

Leeds team vs West Ham United

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

Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson and Karl Darlow moved to the bench. Forwards Calvert-Lewin and Okafor had been doubts with hamstring issues.

Left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson had been thought to be in contention to return after suspension but was ruled out by a knock suffered while with 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 substitutes: Karl Darlow, Sam Byram, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Sean Longstaff, Ilia Gruev, Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto, Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin