Leeds United’s fans have had their say on the club reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.
Leeds United have put themselves into the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 39 years - but what do the club’s fans think? Here is what our YEP Jury have had to say with praise for the team but the need for players to take responsibility for late concessions and ‘disgraceful’ scenes in the home sections.
NEIL GREWER
Life with Leeds is never easy. 9,000 visiting supporters witnessed (mostly from a ridiculous distance from the pitch) a crazy afternoon in London, where Leeds rarely win.
So no surprise when Leeds had one foot in the semi-final on 75 minutes but contrived to make the Yorkshire Army endure extra-time and penalties before celebrating and booking a Wembley appearance.
Ao Tanaka and a DCL penalty had put Leeds in a strong position, fortunately a deflection helping Tanaka’s shot into the net, and then VAR awarding a penalty the ref’ had missed.
Leeds were in control and 11 minutes added time was indicated, then Jarrod Bowen (best player on the day) struck the post and the follow-up was slotted in. Three minutes later, a cross from Adama Traore was also converted. For both goals, more could have been done to stop the shot or cross.
Leeds rode their luck in extra-time with two Hammers goals disallowed and, inevitably, penalties resulted. Lucas Perri made two saves and Pascal Struijk remained calm to stroke home the winning penalty. Cue massive celebrations in the packed away end.
Man of the match: Ethan Ampadu (usual high-level performance and leadership for 120 minutes).
ANDY RHODES
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt about Leeds in knockout games over the years, it’s that they love to take you through it.
For most of this FA Cup quarter-final game at the London Stadium, the Whites looked comfortable against a West Ham side that lacked creativity and, honestly, any real motivation.
They also lacked Crysencio Summerville’s ability to make things happen out of nothing. However, Leeds have a habit of starting well and finishing poorly away from home.
And this habit struck again as they conceded the two late goals. Some will put it on Daniel Farke’s tactics, but the players have to take some responsibility.
However, they were able to hold their collective nerve when it came to the penalty shootout. The home side could have been favourites considering they pegged Leeds back, but the Whites got the job done.
Now, a tricky semi-final. Chelsea await to end decades of waiting for a major final.
Many of us weren’t alive the last time Leeds got to an FA Cup semi-final, let alone a final, so this will be an occasion to savour whatever the outcome!
Man of the match: Lucas Perri.
DAVID WATKINS
Boy oh boy! Leeds just do not know how to do simple, straight-forward things, do they?
This was a rollercoaster of a game in which Leeds had it all sewn up as we moved into 11 minutes of added time, but then proceeded to give away two goals and almost lost it!
I’ve lost count of the number of times we have conceded late goals this season, many of them costly in terms of league points wasted.
This time we held it all together and, despite having a couple of scares in extra time, with goals chalked off for narrow offside calls, we came through a tense penalty shootout to move on to a Wembley semi-final.
The happy Hammers’ fans had started to leave in their droves when Dom Calvert-Lewin put away a penalty in the 75th minute and, by the 90th minute, the West Ham sections were half empty!
Many of them turned back, though, as the home side scored twice in added time to take the game into extra time; it was all very, very Leedsy!
It felt even more Leedsy when Joel Piroe’s spot kick was saved but, after that, Leeds were perfect from the spot, while Lucas Perri saved two from the hosts, and Leeds had scrambled their way to Wembley!
Man of the match: Lucas Perri.
KEITH INGHAM
Oh my good lord! How the heck can you describe the quarter-final win on penalties at West Ham after Leeds threw away a 2-0 lead in a game that kept most fans on the edge of their seats?
Leeds started really well but just couldn’t test the West Ham keeper until Ao Tanaka found space in the box. He started the move and finished it superbly to give Leeds a well-deserved lead.
Either side of the goal, stopper Lucas Perri kept them in the tie with two great saves. 1-0 at the break, after which West Ham brought on two of their regular starters and took the game to Leeds.
Substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin put away a penalty and, at 2-0, you would have thought the game over, but this is Leeds and West Ham levelled with two late goals in three minutes.
Extra-time brought a West Ham ‘goal', rightly disallowed for offside after which the game seemed destined for penalties as I forecast pre-match. Both Joel Piroe and Jarrod Bowen missed their openers but Leeds went through 4-2 thanks to Pascal Stuijk’s winning penalty and saves from Perri.
Both Anton Stach and Joe Rodon went off with worrying injuries which takes a little gloss off Leeds’ first semi-final appearance since 1987.
Men of the match: Ao Tanaka and Pascal Struijk.
West Ham United v Leeds United was the FA Cup at its very best.
Controversy, multiple talking points, twists and turns and, most importantly, a deserved penalty-shootout win for the Whites.
Leeds dominated for the first 90 minutes after Ao Tanaka kept his head in the West Ham box to give the Whites the lead.
And when Brenden Aaronson was chopped down in the box on 75 minutes, Dominic Calvert-Lewin stepped up to take the penalty.
Putting thoughts of his last expensive miss behind him, he calmly dispatched the ball home as he ended his personal goal drought and this should give him increased confidence for the tasks ahead in the Premier League.
The goal also signalled the disgraceful mass exodus of thousands of West Ham fans. These unfortunates missed a grandstand finish as the Hammers were generously awarded a extra 11 minutes during which the Whites somehow let the Londoners back into the game.
Mateus Fernandez and Axel Disasi scored to force extra time and then penalties. After two fine saves by Lucas Perri, Pascal Struijk scored the winner with the help of the goal frame. Breathless!
Man of the match: Ethan Ampadu.
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