Nuno sounds survival warning after Struijk gives Leeds last laugh in three-hour epic
MARCHING ON: Leeds United goalkeeper Lucas Perri (centre left) celebrates with team-mates after winning the penalty shoot-out during the Emirates FA Cup, quarter-final match at the London Stadium. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.
PASCAL Struijk’s winning penalty ended three hours of utterly compelling drama at the London Stadium, broke West Ham hearts and sent Leeds United through to their first FA Cup semi-final in 39 years.
Goals from Ao Tanaka and substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin had set Daniel Farke’s side on a seemingly comfortable passage to Wembley.
That was until three minutes of injury-time saw Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi draw West Ham level and send the game into the most marvellous chaos.
Extra-time provided unstinting drama. The woodwork, a disallowed goal, goal-line clearances and even the introduction of 20-year-old Finlay Herrick to make his West Ham debut for the injured Alphonse Areola, the additional 30 minutes had the lot.
When Herrick saved the first penalty in the shootout from Joel Piroe, it seemed the FA Cup had found a new hero.
But then Leeds keeper Lucas Perri saved from Jarrod Bowen and Pablo to squeeze his side through to a semi-final against Chelsea.
Quite what effect this contest will have on the sides’ respective bids to stay in the Premier League is anybody’s guess.
Perri said: “It's the magic of the cup that we all talk about. It was a crazy game with incredible moments. And we're so happy that we won.
“Wembley is going to be a massive game. But now we need to focus on the Premier League matches that we have. We need to get the points we need in order to stay in the league.”
West Ham are in the more perilous Premier League position and play Wolves on Friday evening.
Having come so close to an extraordinary comeback that saw thousands of fans stream back into the London Stadium after leaving with hope seemingly gone, they may need even greater powers of recover to stay up now.
Three hours of sapping energy on the pitch was matched by the draining psychological effect of the bedlam that accompanied their epic comeback before they lost in the end.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo said: “If we had won, we would recover faster. Today is going to be a tough, sad evening, but we cannot allow ourselves to take too much time in sorrow.
“What we have ahead of us is so important. Let's recover and be ready for the fight.”
Leeds took a 24th-minute lead with an equally inventive move which Tanaka began and finished with a shot that flicked off Disasi and looped over Areola.
Pablo and Tomas Soucek were introduced for the second half and the hosts almost equalised in the 62nd minute when Tati Castellanos headed a curling Adama cross against the base of the post.
Instead, Max Kilman mis-timed a tackle on substitute Brenden Aaronson and Calvert-Lewin converted the penalty with his first touch.
Then came 11 minutes of injury-time.
Fernandes stabbed home the rebound after Bowen’s shot from the edge of the penalty area struck the Leeds post before Traore clipped an inviting cross from the left that was turned home by the outstretched foot of Disasi for his first West Ham goal.
Extra-time saw Castellanos have a goal disallowed for a marginal offside before a combination of Areola and Soucek somehow prevented a James Justin shot from crossing the line at the other end.
The outstanding Bowen then struck the post again with another stunning shot and the offside flag ruled out Pablo’s follow-up.
The mayhem continued in the second period of extra-time when an injury to Areola meant a debut for academy product Herrick whose only previous senior action came in ten games on loan at National League Boreham Wood earlier this season.
West Ham then wasted their early advantage in the shootout and Leeds went through to the delight of their 9,000 travelling fans.
The final day of the Premier League season will see these sides meet again at the London Stadium.
After this, who knows what that game will bring.
Areola 6 (Herrick 120, 6); Walker-Peters 6, Disasi 7, Kilman 5, Diouf 6 (Scarles 106, 6); Magassa 5 (Pablo 46, 6), Potts 7 (Soucek 46, 6); Bowen 9, Fernandes 6, Adama 8 (Mayers 120+5, 6), Castellanos 7 (Kante 106, 6) Substitutes not used: Lamadrid, Golambeckis, Ajala
Perri 8; Rodon 7 (Bornauw 52, 6), Bijol 6, Struijk 5; Bogle 6 (Piroe 106, 5), Ampadu 7, Tanaka 9 (Gruev 69, 6), Justin 7; Stach 6 (Aaronson 38, 8), Okafor 7 (Gnonto 69, 6); Nmecha 6 (Calvert-Lewin 69, 6) Substitutes not used: Darlow, Longstaff, Byram
Craig Pawson
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