We Have Written History But Greedy to Go to the Next Step

Leeds United’s journey to the FA Cup semi-finals has been a rollercoaster, with the club’s fans now dreaming of lifting the trophy for the first time since 1972. Their historic quarter-final victory over West Ham at London Stadium was a dramatic affair, filled with twists and near-misses that kept supporters on the edge of their seats.

The match saw Daniel Farke’s side take a 2-0 lead before the final 11 minutes of stoppage time, only for West Ham to level the score and force a penalty shootout. Leeds had two potential goals ruled out for offside, adding to the tension. A young reserve goalkeeper, Finlay Herrick, made his debut in the 120th minute after Alphonse Areola was injured, but he missed the first spot-kick. Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri stepped up to save from Jarrod Bowen and Pablo, before Pascal Struijk secured a 4-2 shootout win and a Wembley semi-final clash against Chelsea.

Long-Awaited Achievement

For Leeds, this semi-final marks a significant milestone. The club has not reached this stage in over 39 years, and the dream of lifting the cup has been reignited. Farke reflected on the emotional journey, recalling his own childhood memories of the 1987 semi-final against Coventry City, which also went to extra time. “It was a bit of a crazy game, lots of excitement,” he said. “Both teams are fighting to make history for their club.”

“I’m just proud of my boys, how we dealt with so many setbacks, not just the two late goals but injuries. We missed the first penalty but we stuck together and wanted to win.” “We have rewarded our fantastic fanbase with the first semi-final in decades so it’s a great night for Leeds United.”

Leeds’ history in the FA Cup is marked by a single title win in 1972, defeating Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley via Allan Clarke’s diving header. However, they have lost in three finals, including a 1970 match against Chelsea after a replay. The Whites have faced setbacks in subsequent years, losing to Manchester United in 1977 and Coventry a decade later, while also falling in the quarter-finals in 1996, 1998, and 2003.

The other semi-final will feature Manchester City against Championship Southampton. Farke’s side will face Chelsea, a team they narrowly drew 2-2 at Stamford Bridge in February and defeated 3-1 at Elland Road in December. Despite their recent form, Farke believes the underdog spirit will carry them into the next round. “Chelsea are a big name and a side full of top players, but we have written history,” he added. “Nobody expected us to go through to the semi-final, and of course, we are greedy to go to the next step.”

As the club prepares for their Wembley showdown, the atmosphere at London Stadium was electric, with Leeds’ 9,000 allocated fans selling out the entire capacity. The game was dominated by Leeds for much of the contest, with Japan’s Ao Tanaka scoring early and England’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin doubling the lead via a penalty. But West Ham’s late goals, including a 75th-minute strike from Mateus Fernandes and a 90th-minute effort from Axel Disasi, changed the momentum. Perri’s heroics in the shootout, saving two penalties, capped off a memorable day for the club.

“This is the magic of the cup, anything can happen,” said Perri. “Today was a crazy and memorable game. Happy that we won the match and we are into the semi-finals now.” The outcome has brought renewed hope to Leeds, with their supporters eager to see the club’s next chapter unfold.