How the national media reported Leeds' FA Cup win
James Smailes
14:32, 06 Apr 2026
Leeds United fans celebrate victory during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between West Ham United and Leeds United
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Leeds United fans celebrate victory during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between West Ham United and Leeds United
Leeds United's penalty shoot-out victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium is quickly earning classic status. The many sub plots around the game, including the controversy over which end the penalties would be taken at, the three hour length of the match to complete thanks to huge amounts of stoppage time, plus the West Ham fans leaving and then trying to get back in, has all added to the story.
With that in mind we've taken a look at how the national media have been reporting yesterday's FA Cup quarter-final victory for Daniel Farke's men.
Michael Emons, BBC Sport
Before they head to north London, those present at the former Olympic Stadium will have fond tales to tell about Sunday's experience.
Leeds sold out their entire 9,000 allocation, taking up all the space behind one of the goals and contributing to a fantastic atmosphere.
For most of the game, the Whites looked in complete control. Japan's Ao Tanaka gave them a first-half lead, with England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin doubling their advantage with a 75th-minute penalty that looked to have killed the game off.
But in the 11 minutes of injury time, Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi scored to take the tie into extra time.
Taty Castellanos and Pablo both had goals ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee (VAR) in a breathless extra-time period, where Leeds also had two shots cleared off the line.
John Cross, the Mirror
It was an incredible tie which had celebrity West Ham Danny Dyer off his seat for every twist and turn but ultimately ended with Leeds celebrating in front of their army of 9,000 travelling fans.
What a story for Leeds boss Daniel Farke and his players as they reached the club’s first semi final in 39 years and are now at Wembley.
That barely tells half the story as Leeds were 2-0 up when the game entered into 11 minutes of injury time at 90 minutes because of all the lengthy VAR checks.
Huge sections of the stadium had emptied and yet they were trying - and failing - to storm the turnstiles to get back in after Mateus Fernandes and then Axel Disasi scored in the 93rd and 96th minute to send it into extra time. Leeds were left counting the cost of injuries as Anton Stach, Joe Rodon and Noah Okafor all went off hurt but this game will live long in the memory.
Jacob Steinberg, The Guardian
The familiar London Stadium rush for the exit has never been so misjudged. A lot of West Ham fans decided they had seen enough when Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Leeds 2-0 up and within touching distance of a first FA Cup semi-final since 1987, but how wrong they were. The non-believers reckoned without their side forcing extra time and were not allowed back in to see a ridiculous game go the distance.
Lucas Perri was the hero for Daniel Farke’s side. The goalkeeper shifted the momentum by saving from Jarrod Bowen. Then, when Perri kept out a poor effort from Pablo, it was left to Pascal Struijk to earn Leeds a date at Wembley with Chelsea. It is a tie to stir memories of the infamous 1970 final, a game Chelsea edged after a brutal replay. More immediately, Leeds will sense they have struck a psychological blow in the battle to stay up.
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Sky Sports
Leeds looked home and hosed when 2-0 up in stoppage time, courtesy of goals from Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but West Ham scored twice in the 11 added minutes through Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi to sensationally take a classic FA Cup encounter to extra-time.
With penalties looming, West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola then suffered an injury meaning 20-year-old replacement goalkeeper Finlay Herrick was thrust into the spotlight on his debut for the club.
But it was opposite number Lucas Perri that came up big in the shoot-out for Leeds, saving from Jarrod Bowen and Pablo to send Leeds to Wembley - the first time in 39 years they have made it to a FA Cup semi-final, where they will face Chelsea.
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In what was an emotionally and physically draining encounter, attention turns back to the Premier League relegation fight next with West Ham playing on Friday night against Wolves, while Leeds take on Manchester United on Monday night