Leeds celebrate a goalImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Leeds have only won the FA Cup once - in 1972 when they beat Arsenal 1-0 in the final

At a glance

  • Leeds go 2-0 ahead with goals from Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin

  • Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi score late on to take tie to extra time

  • West Ham have two goals ruled out for offside in extra time

  • Jarrod Bowen and Pablo have penalties saved in shootout as Leeds advance to face Chelsea at Wembley

  • Player ratings

ByMichael Emons
BBC Sport journalist at London Stadium

Leeds United reached their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987 with a dramatic penalty shootout win over West Ham in a pulsating last-eight match at London Stadium.

The Hammers went into the shootout with 20-year-old Finlay Herrick in goal after Alphonse Areola was injured late on in extra time.

Herrick, who had a four-month loan spell with fifth-tier Boreham Wood earlier this season, was making his first senior appearance for the Hammers, and he saved from Joel Piroe.

But England forward Jarrod Bowen then immediately failed to convert his spot-kick for West Ham, with Pablo also having an effort saved by Lucas Perri before Pascal Struijk scored the decisive penalty, with Leeds winning the shootout 4-2.

Leeds had been 2-0 ahead with 90 minutes on the clock, but 11 minutes of stoppage time followed and West Ham scored twice through Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi to force extra time.

The visitors had earlier looked in complete control following a deflected opener from Ao Tanaka and a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty.

Despite West Ham taking the game to a shootout, the visitors were the ones to triumph to secure a semi-final at Wembley, where Chelsea will await them.

West Ham analysis: Opportunity missed after dramatic fightback

Media caption,

West Ham 'must react' after 'tough' defeat by Leeds - Nuno

With West Ham sitting 18th in the Premier League, in the relegation zone and in danger of dropping to the Championship, this was a glorious chance for the players to give the supporters a day out at Wembley.

Before the game, captain Bowen said the club could turn "an underwhelming season into a really special one" and said the match was a "big opportunity".

So often the Hammers' star performer this season, Bowen added: "A Wembley trip for everyone associated with this club would be incredible. This is the FA Cup, the competition we all grew up watching and dreaming of winning."

But, on a desperately disappointing afternoon for home fans, the Hammers could not take their chance.

A poor first half featured them giving the ball away sloppily on several occasions, with discontent rising in the stands.

Bowen had a shot saved following a bright run by Adama Traore, but it was no surprise when Leeds went ahead. The tie then looked over when Calvert-Lewin added a second, with a penalty that was given following a check by the video assistant referee.

But, in a barely believable stoppage-time period, West Ham scored twice to earn a second bite at the cherry. Fernandes followed up after Bowen hit the post and then Disasi steered in Traore's cross.

In a breathtaking game that had nearly everything, West Ham then had two goals ruled out in extra time - Taty Castellanos and Pablo each offside when they found the net, the latter after Bowen rattled the woodwork with a fierce shot.

Then came the frustration of the penalties, and West Ham must quickly pick themselves up before Friday's home league game against bottom-placed Wolves, a fixture where Nuno Espirito Santo's side will see victory as essential if they are to stay in the top flight.

Leeds analysis: Wembley beckons after rollercoaster ride

Media caption,

Leeds United never do it the easy way - Farke on dramatic FA Cup victory

The visitors, who put their 9,000 vocal travelling fans through the wringer on Sunday, can now make plans for Wembley later this month.

Their supporters will be there in even greater numbers, two years after Leeds last played at the national stadium - when they lost 1-0 to Southampton in the 2024 Championship play-off final.

Leeds, who won the FA Cup in 1972, have in fact lost on their three most recent trips to Wembley. They were beaten 1-0 by Doncaster in the 2008 League One play-off final and 3-0 by Aston Villa in the 1996 League Cup final.

You have to go all the way back to August 1992 for Leeds' last victory at Wembley, a 4-3 success over Liverpool in the Charity Shield, featuring an Eric Cantona hat-trick.

Leeds are back in the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1987, when they lost 3-2 to eventual trophy winners Coventry City at Hillsborough.

For large parts of Sunday's game, they looked good value for their semi-final spot.

They nearly scored in the opening 90 seconds, but Noah Okafor was denied by Areola, before Tanaka's deflected shot bounced off the underside of the crossbar and over the line for their first goal.

Calvert-Lewin made it 2-0 with a penalty after Max Kilman caught Brenden Aaronson.

The late West Ham turnaround changed the flow of the game dramatically though.

Leeds had to defend for a lot of a frantic extra-time period, but in the end Daniel Farke's side, themselves not certain of avoiding relegation from the Premier League, came through.

Wembley awaits Leeds on the weekend of 25 April, with Chelsea standing between them and the final on 16 May.

What's next for both teams?

West Ham have a massive game in their bid to avoid relegation when they entertain bottom-of-the-table Wolves on Friday (20:00 BST) before a London derby at Crystal Palace on Monday, 20 April (20:00 BST).

Leeds play at Manchester United on Monday, 13 April (20:00) and then face Wolves at home on Saturday, 18 April (15:00).

Player of the match

Number: 22 A. Tanaka
Average rating 7.31
Number: 17 Adama Traoré
Average Rating: 6.46
Number: 20 J. Bowen
Average Rating: 6.27
Number: 18 Mateus Fernandes
Average Rating: 6.24
Number: 49 F. Herrick
Average Rating: 6.06
Number: 23 A. Areola
Average Rating: 5.95
Number: 4 A. Disasi
Average Rating: 5.87
Number: 28 T. Souček
Average Rating: 5.78
Number: 11 V. Castellanos
Average Rating: 5.76
Number: 55 M. Kanté
Average Rating: 5.69
Number: 12 E. Diouf
Average Rating: 5.63
Number: 2 K. Walker-Peters
Average Rating: 5.60
Number: 19 Pablo
Average Rating: 5.50
Number: 30 O. Scarles
Average Rating: 5.48
Number: 32 F. Potts
Average Rating: 5.35
Number: 27 S. Magassa
Average Rating: 5.19
Number: 63 E. Mayers
Average Rating: 4.98
Number: 3 M. Kilman
Average Rating: 4.85

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.