Leeds United defeated West Ham United in a dramatic penalty shootout. In a quarterfinal game on Sunday, April 5, 2026, the away team secured a victory to reach their first FA Cup semi-final in 39-long years.
The match at the London Stadium ended 2-2 after extra time. However, Leeds won the penalty shootout 4-2 to secure their semi-final spot at Wembley.
Daniel Farke’s side were two goals up until the final minute of normal time before West Ham scored for a late comeback. Consequently, the game went to extra time and eventually penalties. This victory ends a long wait for the Yorkshire club, who last reached this stage of the FA Cup in 1987.
West Ham United vs Leeds United Match Highlights
| Stats | West Ham United | Leeds United |
| Goals Scored | 2 | 2 |
| Shots on Target | 6 | 8 |
| Total Shots | 22 | 21 |
| Possession | 55.5% | 44.5% |
| Corners | 4 | 5 |
| Saves | 5 | 4 |
| Fouls Committed | 20 | 11 |
Leeds United Scored Early Goals at the London Stadium
Leeds United nearly scored within the first 90 seconds of the match. Noah Okafor forced an early save from West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. However, Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri also had to make vital saves to keep the game level during the opening period. He notably stopped a strong effort from Valentín Castellanos.
The visitors eventually took the lead in the 26th minute. Ao Tanaka found space inside the penalty area and fired a shot that deflected off Axel Disasi. The ball deflected back after hitting the underside of the crossbar, and bounced back over the goal line to give them the lead. Furthermore, Leeds created chances and almost added a second goal through a stunner from Anton Stach before half-time.
Second Half Goals and Late Drama
Leeds United was close to a win in the 75th minute. Max Kilman fouled Brenden Aaronson inside the box, and the referee awarded a penalty after checking the pitch-side monitor. Dominic Calvert-Lewin stepped up and confidently sent the ball past Areola to make it 2-0. At this point, the 9,000 travelling Leeds fans began celebrating a certain trip to Wembley.
However, the fourth official signaled 11 minutes of stoppage time. In the 93rd minute, Jarrod Bowen of West Ham, hit the post, but Mateus Fernandes took the rebound opportunity to score for the home side. As West Ham searched for an equalizer, Adama Traoré delivered a cross into the box in the 96th minute, and Axel Disasi volleyed the ball to make it 2-2. This forced the match into extra time.
Extra Time and Penalty Shootouts
In extra time, West Ham United thought they had taken the lead early when Castellanos found the net. However, the goal was ruled out for offside. Later, Pablo also had a goal disallowed for offside after Bowen had hit the woodwork again.
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola suffered an injury late in extra time. Because they had used their substitutes, the Hammers had to give a debut to 20-year-old reserve keeper Finlay Herrick for the shootout.
In the penalty shootout, Leeds United’s Joel Piroe saw his opening penalty saved by the young debutant Herrick. However, Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri quickly turned the tide. He saved the first penalty from West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson, and Wilfried Gnonto all scored their spot-kicks for Leeds. Meanwhile, Perri made another crucial save against Pablo to put Leeds in a winning position. Finally, Pascal Struijk stepped up and scored the winning penalty. His successful shot sent Leeds into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 39 years.
What’s Next For Leeds United
The draw for the semi-finals of Emirates FA Cup is complete. Leeds United will now face Chelsea on April 25, 2026, at Wembley. In the other semi-finals of the tournament, Southampton will play against Manchester City. Meanwhile, West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo said that the loss was “emotional and sad”, but he urged his players to focus on their upcoming Premier League match against Wolves to avoid relegation from the league.
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