by Staff Writer
Sunday, 5th April 2026
West Ham United found the back of the net four times and hit the woodwork twice against Leeds United in this afternoon's FA Cup quarter final - but it still wasn't enough to send the Hammers through to a Wembley semi-final.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side blew the chance of a first Wembley appearance in 14 years after producing an insipid display at home to Leeds in this afternoon's FA Cup quarter final.
At least, that was the case until added-on time, when the Hammers inexplicably came back from the dead to score twice in five crazy minutes through Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi - and force extra time.
And while extra time came and went without any further goals being scored, the Hammers saw two efforts disallowed for offside - while Taty Castellanos agonisingly also fired against the woodwork.
The Hammers were forced into a goalkeeping change with mere seconds of extra time remaining, as Alphonse Areola was unable to continue after landing awkwardly. And with regular first choice stopper Mads Hermansen rested, it was left to Academy stopper Fin Herrick to mark his debut by stepping in for the ensuing penalty shootout.
The spot kicks began so well for West Ham with Herrick saving Leeds' opening penalty from Joël Piroe - only for Jarrod Bowen, usually so reliable from 12 yards to see his effort saved by Lucas Perri.
And after Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson and Gnonto netted for Leeds, with Kyle Walker-Peters and Tomás Soucek registering for West Ham, recent signing Pablo - yet to find the back of the net since moving to east London from Gil Vicente - saw his effort saved.
And that left Struijk to convert the winning spot kick for Leeds in front of their 9,000-strong contingent of travelling fans, that sent the visitors through to a Wembley semi-final against Chelsea.
We'll have a full match report for you soon...
West Ham Utd: Areola (Herrick 120), Walker-Peters, Disasi, Kilman, Diouf (Scarles 106), Potts (Soucek 46), Magassa (Pablo 46), Fernandes, Bowen (c), Adama (Mayers 120+5), Taty (Kante 106)
Unused subs: Golambeckis, Lamadrid, Ajala
Goals: Fernandes (90+3), Disasi (90+6)
Booked: Kilman, Walker-Peters
Leeds Utd: Perri, Bogle (Piroe 106), Struijk, Rodon (Bornauw 52), Bijol, Justin, Tanaka (Gruev 69), Ampadu (c), Stach (Aaronson 38), Okafor (Gnonto 69), Nmecha (Calvert-Lewin 69)
Unused subs: Darlow, Byram, Longstaff
Goals: Tanaka (46), Calvert-Lewin (pen 75)
Booked: Nmecha, Ampadu, Bogle
Possession: WHUFC 55%-45% LUFC
Shots: WHUFC 22/6-21/8 LUFC
Referee: Craig Pawson
Attendance: 55,000 (est)
Tickets sold: 62,260
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