Leeds through to first FA Cup semi-final in 39 years after 'crazy' penalty shootout win over West Ham in game that had everything at London Stadium

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Leeds will face Chelsea at Wembley, but booking their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987 proved a frantic ordeal for the 9,000 fans who travelled to the London Stadium on Sunday as West Ham scored twice in stoppage time to wipe out what seemed an unassailable lead for the visitors. Disallowed goals, disgruntled fans locked out and a rookie substitute goalkeeper all added to the drama.

Highlights: Leeds deny thrilling West Ham fightback to reach Wembley after shoot-out victory

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"It was just a thrill to be here."

Ally McCoist paused for breath after witnessing a chaotic end to the final Emirates FA Cup quarter-final of the weekend, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

What was billed in some quarters as an unwanted distraction between two clubs scrapping to preserve their Premier League status played out almost like a play-off.

The Emirates FA Cup

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Leeds United are heading to Wembley, and an FA Cup semi-final for the first time in 39 years - but that doesn't begin to tell half the story on a day that will live long in the memory at the London Stadium, where West Ham staged a dramatic late comeback to force extra time.

"The drama that was unfolding in front of our eyes was absolutely remarkable," added McCoist.

Quite simply, this was a game that had everything. Daniel Farke's side surrendered a two-goal lead in stoppage time before ultimately prevailing on penalties, with goalkeeper Lucas Perri the hero as the Brazilian produced decisive saves to deny Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Felipe, sealing a 4-2 shootout victory to complete an Easter Sunday classic.

With strikes from Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin seemingly securing a comfortable victory for Leeds, thousands of West Ham supporters began streaming out as the clock edged toward 90 minutes, convinced the contest was settled.

What followed, however, was anything but routine.

In a remarkable late surge, Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi struck in quick succession - in the 93rd and 96th minute to be precise - to level the match at 2-2, transforming a fading encounter into a gripping cup spectacle and forcing the tie into extra time.

Disasi nets dramatic late equaliser against Leeds to keep FA Cup dream alive

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Entering injury time, McCoist had pointed out to Darren Fletcher how there were some West Ham supporters sat close to the gantry who questioned the wisdom of the fourth official adding 11 minutes. He had chosen his man-of-the-match from a shortlist of three Leeds players as the game headed towards what seemed an unremarkable end.

Now, there were home fans bartering with stewards to be allowed back in, locked outside the stadium having walked out the ground, consigned to their fate.

Yet even that chaos proved merely a prelude to an extraordinary conclusion.

The rookie 'keeper summoned at short notice

As the match lurched towards penalties, further drama unfolded when Alphonse Areola was forced off with a late injury, prompting the introduction of 20-year-old fourth-choice goalkeeper Finlay Herrick for his senior debut.

Mads Hermansen, who has regained the No 1 jersey under Nuno Espirito Santo, had been given the day off, and so the stage was set for yet another FA Cup fairytale.

Finlay Herrick saved the opening spot-kick from Joel Piroe in a dramatic FA Cup quarter-final

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"He would have been sat there 15 minutes ago not expecting this," Joe Cole said on TNT Sports as the players prepared for the spot-kicks.

"But his body language since he came on in the couple of moments he's touched the ball, he took his time and calmed everyone down. He walked out and showed that he belongs here. He looks like a kid who is ready."

Earlier this season, while on loan at Boreham Wood, it was his 95th-minute spot-kick save which helped secure a 1-0 victory over Colchester United in the Vertu Trophy.

The youngster then made an immediate impact, saving the opening penalty from Joel Piroe and briefly tilting the shootout in West Ham's favour.

Controversy was not far away. Leeds were reportedly informed the shootout could not be taken in front of their own supporters due to "safety concerns," a decision that might have unsettled a less composed side. Instead, they shrugged it off.

Leeds held their nerve when it mattered most, thanks to Perri's poise.

Calvert-Lewin 'excited' for Wembley milestone in FA Cup semi-final

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"It's the magic of the cup we all talk about," he told TNT Sports. "It was a crazy game, incredible moments.

"We need to be prepared for everything, and after they scored the first one, we knew they would come to attack to draw and force the game to extra-time. The beginning of the first half of extra-time was a situation of football, and thank God it was offside."

Farke: A really important day for the club

The incident Perri refers to was Taty Castellanos' remarkable composure from an acute angle coming after he had drifted beyond the last defender, just minutes into extra time, with the Leeds goalkeeper misjudging his distances.

More agony for West Ham was to come, as Pablo saw the linesman's flag cut short his celebrations following a close-range finish. Had the initial effort from Bowen gone in, and not cracked the inside of the post, the turnaround would have been complete. By that stage, West Ham were fully in the ascendancy.

There appeared only one likely winner during the additional 30 minutes, although Leeds will also point to goal-line clearances from Kyle Walker-Peters and Tomas Soucek.

Leeds manager Farke will be a relieved man having witnessed his side rise from the canvas having conceded two goals in the allotted 11 minutes of injury time at the end of the second period.

Daniel Farke salutes the 9,000 travelling Leeds fans at full time

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There was a degree of controversy, too, about Disasi's effort as he raised his boot towards Pascal Struik's head in order to guide his effort low beyond Perri.

Leeds have now conceded 11 goals from the 90th minute onwards this season, more than any other Premier League team in all competitions - but Farke chose to focus on the positives after a breathtaking contest.

"We always do it the tough way, never the easy way," the German told TNT Sports. "A quarter-final away game against a Premier League side is never an easy ride. We could have made our lives easier.

"We showed great mentality, and I am proud of the boys today with how we kept the nerves and won the game in the end. It's a pretty important day for everyone connected with Leeds United.

'The magic of the FA Cup' - Perri, Struijk react to Leeds' shoot-out win over West Ham

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"To score two goals, we could have put the game to bed even a bit earlier. We had a late sucker punch when the whole stadium was buzzing.

"To keep the nerves and win the penalty shootout shows great mentality and character. A chapter of Leeds United history, we were in the semi-finals really a while ago."

Bowen: Defeat has to hurt

There will be concerns over midfielder Anton Stach - who sustained an ankle injury and was later seen in the technical area on crutches and in a protective boot - as well as centre-back Joe Rodon, who hobbled off on the hour-mark, but Leeds march on to face Chelsea at Wembley during the weekend of April 25/26 - live on TNT Sports.

For West Ham, their attention turns sharply to Premier League matters, and the chance to move out of the relegation zone this Friday when they host Wolves.

Pascal Struijk tucks away the winning penalty

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"We're gutted," Bowen told TNT Sports. "It hurts a lot after being 2-0 down. I missed and I can only apologise to everyone involved for that.

"You never want to miss penalties, but I have today and I have to face that. It doesn't define who I am but I have to stand tall from that. We did a lot of good things in the game, but it wasn't to be.

"It has to hurt. We are hurt as a team. We have to dust ourselves down and get back into training tomorrow for the Wolves game on Friday because we know what we have to do."

Hammers boss Espirito Santo was impressed by the maturity shown by Herrick when called upon at short notice, and the Portuguese revealed there is a plan in place for the England Under-20 international.

Nuno Espirito Santo has vowed to fight for West Ham's top-flight status

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"He is a young goalkeeper with talent, he played for England in the youth," the West Ham boss said during his post-match press conference. "We have a project to try and help him to become what we expect from a good goalkeeper that can help us.

"It is sad the way it ended because in the second half and in extra-time we created chances that could have stopped it going to penalties. It's sad, it's tough.

”We saw from the fans what it meant to us to try and reach Wembley, but it wasn't to be, so we have to rest in the best way we can and react for the next one.

”We can never give up. The game is not done until the referee says so, and we have to take that into our future starting on Friday. It will take more time to recover.

”The legs go when you win and recover quicker. We have sadness and that will drag into this evening and tomorrow but we have to react. We have important games so we will keep fighting.”

You can watch every match of the Emirates FA Cup live on TNT Sports, available both live and on-demand on HBO Max.

The Emirates FA Cup