Leeds United reached their first FA Cup semi-final in 39 years by beating West Ham 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out, after a classic quarter-final finished 2-2 after extra time. 

Leeds were 2-0 up going into the 93rd minute of regular time after goals from Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi struck in a remarkable finale, leaving thousands of West Ham fans attempting to get back into the London Stadium after leaving early. 

West Ham had the better chances in extra time but saw two goals disallowed for offside, while they also had to hand 20-year-old goalkeeper Finlay Herrick his debut off the bench after Alphonse Areola was injured late on.

And though Herrick saved the first kick he faced, Jarrod Bowen and Pablo were denied by Lucas Perri as Leeds progressed from a tie they looked to have thrown away. 

Both goalkeepers made fine saves in the first six minutes, with Areola tipping Noah Okafor's curler around the post before Perri brilliantly thwarted Valentin Castellanos.

But Leeds were exerting more control and they deservedly took the lead in the 26th minute. Tanaka started and finished a sweeping move, brilliantly turning Soungoutou Magassa before his shot deflected off Disasi and bounced in via the underside of the crossbar.

West Ham went agonisingly close to an equaliser when Castellanos headed Adama Traore's cross off the foot of the post, and Leeds went 2-0 up in the 75th minute as Calvert-Lewin kept his cool from the penalty spot, following Max Kilman's lunging foul on Brenden Aaronson.

Wilfried Gnonto sent a clever backheel trickling wide as Leeds hunted for a third, and they were made to pay for that miss in stunning fashion.

In the third of 11 added minutes, Bowen's ferocious effort bounced off the post and into the path of Fernandes, who blasted into the empty net. And three minutes later, there were wild celebrations among the home fans as Disasi stretched to turn Traore's cross home.

That remarkable fightback forced extra time, where Castellanos and Pablo both had wonderful finishes disallowed for offside, the former after a terrible error from Perri and the latter after Bowen again rattled the woodwork from distance. 

Leeds also went close themselves as a combination of Areola and Tomas Soucek somehow denied James Justin on the line, and the West Ham goalkeeper would not make it to penalties as an ankle injury forced him to be replaced by youngster Herrick.

Herrick denied Joel Piroe from the opening kick, but Leeds were perfect from that moment on and Perri saved weak attempts from Bowen and Pablo as the visitors advanced.  

Data Debrief: Leeds win classic quarter-final twice over

Leeds appeared set for a routine victory going into the 93rd minute of regulation time, but a staggering capitulation meant they had to win the tie all over again.

Leeds have conceded 11 goals in the 90th minute or later this season in all competitions, more than any other Premier League team (excluding extra time).

And they were perhaps fortunate to make it to penalties as the game became stretched in extra time – this was only the second match between two Premier League sides this season to see both teams attempt at least 20 shots, after Newcastle United versus Bournemouth in the FA Cup in January.

West Ham had 22 shots to Leeds' 21 and edged the expected goals (xG) battle by 2.91 to 2.38, but it was Daniel Farke's team that held their nerve from 12 yards, and Leeds will now play in their first FA Cup semi-final since losing to eventual winners Coventry City in 1987.