Full of twists and turns and highs and lows, it proved a wacky, white-knuckle ride for weakened West Ham United, who found themselves trailing to Ao Tanaka’s first-half opener and substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 75th-minute penalty.
But in a frantic, furious finale, Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi each netted in stoppage-time to salvage a 2-2 draw that forced an additional, goalless, half-hour ahead of a nerve-shredding spot-kick showdown that eventually saw the visitors prevail 4-2 on penalties.
“It was a sad end, especially given the way we’d reacted and chased the game when everything seemed lost,” grimaced head coach Nuno Espírito Santo following a last-eight loss that saw his team miss-out on a trip to Wembley for the semi-finals.
“We’d kept believing and achieved a draw before creating the best situations in extra-time, too.”
Having doubled their advantage, Leeds looked home and hosed when Calvert-Lewin’s penalty sent droves of evacuating Hammers fans heading for the exits with a full quarter-hour remaining.
Hammers' fans head for the exit during the FA Cup quarter-final match (Image: PA)
But those who kept the faith were rewarded for their loyalty during an extraordinary 11 additional minutes – first, Fernandes latched onto the loose ball after Jarrod Bowen’s 18-yarder rebounded off the left post and then Disasi raised the roof when he prodded home Adama Traore’s left-wing cross.
“What I saw out on the pitch today was a group of players who just wouldn’t give up,” insisted Nuno, whose side were also taken to extra-time in the previous rounds against Queens Park Rangers, Burton Albion and Brentford.
“That’s the major lesson we have to take from this game.”
Both Taty Castellanos and substitute Pablo had efforts ruled out for offside in extra-time before debutant, rookie substitute ‘keeper - Finlay Herrick - replaced injured Alphonse Areola in goal for the shoot-out.
“Our third goalkeeper coming into the game at such a decisive moment for the football club shows our respect for the players of the future,” contended the Hammers head coach.
“He’s young but on the path and growing so it’s up to us to improve his talent. Finlay was ready and he did well.”
Indeed, the England Under-20 stopper superbly saved Joël Piroe’s opening penalty but that was the only Leeds lapse and, with Bowen and Pablo both missing from the spot, Daniel Farke’s men advanced into the last four.
“Tonight was a tough evening but we cannot allow ourselves to spend too much time in sorrow and sadness,” concluded Nuno, who now has just seven Premier League matches remaining to save wobbling West Ham from the dreaded drop, starting with the visit of rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday evening (kick off 8pm).
“I really believe that what’s now ahead of us is so much more important and we cannot allow ourselves to give up for one minute.
“Our mission requires belief, character and the ability to handle pressure. My message to my players is: ‘We keep on fighting and we keep going.’ We must be ready for the battle.”