'we Have Written History But Greedy To Go To The Next Step'

ByMichael Emons

BBC Sport journalist astatine London Stadium

Having not been capable to observe an FA Cup semi-final quality for 39 years, Leeds United supporters are now dreaming of their broadside lifting nan trophy for nan first clip since 1972.

They were put done a scope of emotions successful a crazy, breathtaking quarter-final astatine West Ham.

Daniel Farke's men led 2-0 going into nan 3rd of 11 minutes of wounded time, only to past concede doubly arsenic nan Hammers forced extra-time astatine London Stadium.

The hosts past celebrated what could person been winning goals twice, only for them to some beryllium ruled retired for offside.

Leeds besides missed first successful nan punishment shootout arsenic 20-year-old reserve goalkeeper Finlay Herrick replaced nan injured Alphonse Areola for his West Ham debut and blocked Joel Piroe's spot-kick.

But Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri saved from Jarrod Bowen and Pablo, earlier Pascal Struijk kept his nervus to thief Leeds triumph 4-2 connected penalties and book a Wembley last-four necktie against Chelsea.

"It was a spot of a crazy game, tons of excitement and successful a quarter-final some teams are fighting to make history for their club," said Farke, who was only 10 erstwhile Leeds mislaid 3-2 to Coventry City successful a melodramatic 1987 semi-final that besides went to other time.

"I'm conscionable proud of my boys, really we dealt pinch truthful galore setbacks, not conscionable nan 2 precocious goals but injuries. We missed nan first punishment but we stuck together and wanted to win.

"We person rewarded our awesome fanbase pinch nan first semi-final successful decades truthful it's a awesome nighttime for Leeds United."

Leeds person only won nan FA Cup erstwhile successful their history, beating Arsenal 1-0 astatine Wembley done Allan Clarke's diving header, but person mislaid successful 3 finals, including to Chelsea aft a replay astatine Old Trafford successful 1970.

They were beaten successful nan semi-finals by Manchester United successful 1977 and Coventry a decade later, while losing successful nan quarter-finals successful 1996, 1998 and 2003.

With Manchester City taking connected Championship Southampton successful nan different last-four tie, Leeds look Chelsea.

But nan Blues will clasp nary fearfulness for Farke's broadside aft this season's Premier League games, having beaten Chelsea 3-1 astatine Elland Road successful December and drafting 2-2 astatine Stamford Bridge successful February.

But Farke admitted it will beryllium a typical result nary matter nan consequence connected nan play of 25-26 April.

"I consciousness beautiful humble arsenic you tin spot really overmuch it intends to our supporters to get to nan first semi-final successful decades - it has not been an easy clip for nan club," added nan German.

"You tin spot it successful nan fans' eyes, I cognize really overmuch it intends to them.

"We will beryllium nan underdog, that's for sure. Chelsea are a large sanction and a broadside afloat of apical players, but we person written history. Nobody expected america to spell though to nan semi-final and, of course, we are greedy to spell to nan adjacent step.

"Now we will effort to return complete nan superior pinch 30,000 people."

Before they caput to northbound London, those coming successful eastbound London will retrieve this acquisition for a agelong time.

Leeds sold retired their full 9,000 allocation, taking up each nan abstraction down 1 of nan goals and contributing to a awesome atmosphere.

For astir of nan game, nan Whites looked successful complete control. Japan's Ao Tanaka gave them a first-half lead, pinch England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin doubling their advantage pinch a 75th-minute punishment that looked to person killed nan crippled off.

But successful nan 11 minutes of wounded time, Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi scored to return nan necktie into extra-time.

Taty Castellanos and Pablo some had goals ruled retired for offside by nan video adjunct referee (VAR) successful a breathless extra-time period, wherever Leeds besides had 2 shots cleared disconnected nan line.

There was added play arsenic Areola suffered a limb wounded astatine nan extremity of wounded time, meaning Herrick - who was connected indebtedness astatine fifth-tier Boreham Wood arsenic precocious arsenic January - was handed a first Hammers quality successful nan 120th infinitesimal and conscionable earlier nan shootout.

He saved from Piroe, but Perri ensured he would beryllium nan goalkeeping leader pinch his 2 saves.

"This is nan magic of nan cup, thing tin hap and coming was a crazy and memorable game. Happy that we won nan lucifer and we are into nan semi-finals now," said Perri.

"For this fanbase it shows nan magic of them, nan emotion they person for this team. It is simply a pleasance to play for this team."

For Calvert-Lewin, it will beryllium a speedy return to Wembley aft he played for England successful nan 1-1 world friends tie pinch Uruguay connected 27 March - his first Three Lions quality successful almost 5 years.

Not only did he people successful regularisation time, he besides converted successful nan shootout and playing successful a Wembley FA Cup semi-final will beryllium a caller precocious successful nan 29-year-old's nine career.

"I've ne'er had nan opportunity to play astatine Wembley for nine before, truthful for maine it was a large chance," said Calvert-Lewin, who had scored wrong six minutes of coming connected arsenic a substitute.

"When it went to 2-2, I thought possibly it's not meant to be, but thankfully, we stuck successful location and sewage nan win.

"It's ever going to beryllium a difficult lucifer against Chelsea. They're a bully side, but it's nan FA Cup, we're going to Wembley. Excited.

"I had a bully feeling, peculiarly earlier I came on, that location was going to beryllium chances to make an impact."

Leeds past played astatine Wembley 2 years agone erstwhile they mislaid 1-0 to Southampton successful nan Championship play-off, earlier winning nan section nan pursuing play to unafraid promotion to nan Premier League.

Like Sunday's opponents West Ham, they are still successful a conflict to unafraid their survival, pinch Farke's broadside 15th, only 4 points supra 18th-placed West Ham successful nan relegation zone.

"We still person to triumph our points successful nan Premier League but this will springiness america assurance and belief and really it feels to woody pinch unit - and these experiences are priceless," added Farke.

"As a manager, moreover if you are 2-0 up, you cognize successful a divided 2nd nan full world tin change. I ne'er doubted my players and ever judge successful them. They had setbacks but recovered a measurement to celebrate.

"It will beryllium a large nighttime for us. Getting to nan FA Cup semi-final is simply a awesome measurement for this nine and a awesome reward for everyone connected pinch this club.

"I said [before] it's not realistic [to triumph nan FA Cup], but we want to execute unrealistic goals and we are connected nan correct way to doing this."