Leeds United sealed their place in the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in nearly four decades after edging past West Ham on penalties at the London Stadium, and now they’re set to face Chelsea in the final.
Ao Tanaka marked his return to the starting XI with a first-half goal, once again showing why he deserves more opportunities in the Premier League.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin looked to have put the game to bed after the break with a well-taken penalty, but West Ham struck twice deep into stoppage time to force extra time.
In the end, Lucas Perri stepped up as the hero in the shootout, saving two penalties to send Leeds through and confirm their spot in the semi-finals for the first time in 39 years.
Prominent Chelsea fan fires first shots at Leeds United
The semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds is still a few weeks away. However, the mind games have already begun with talkSPORT pundit and Blues fan Rory Jennings firing the early shots.
Jennings shared a photo of the 1970 FA Cup final, where Chelsea beat Leeds United 2-1 in the replay at Old Trafford after the game at Wembley ended 2-2.
LFG. pic.twitter.com/sC6xXhv9fM
— Rory Jennings ⭐ ⭐ (@Chelsearory) April 5, 2026
Alan Pardew also remembers that game and conceded that the Leeds-Chelsea rivalry began with that defeat for the Whites in the FA Cup final.
He is expecting a tense encounter, given the history between the two sides, and admitted that both sets of fans will be salivating at the prospect of the big game.
Pardew said on talkSPORT: “The final was played in a mud bath, wherever it was [replay at Old Trafford] in 1970.
“It started the whole kind of Chelsea-Leeds rivalry, which will be reenacted in the semi-finals.
“Those fans will be up for it, and the kind of tension that it will have is brilliant.”
Daniel Farke’s men will fancy their chances of beating the Blues
Chelsea haven’t exactly enjoyed facing Leeds this season. They were beaten 3-1 at Elland Road towards the end of last year and then held to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in February.
Leeds, meanwhile, have relished those encounters against one of their traditional rivals, taking four points from a possible six in the Premier League.
A Wembley semi-final will bring a completely different kind of pressure, and Chelsea arguably have more players with experience of these big occasions.
Even so, those tough meetings earlier in the season will still be fresh in their minds, and Leeds will believe they’ve got a real opportunity to reach the FA Cup final.
