Leeds United reached the FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1986-87, edging West Ham on penalties after a 2-2 draw, as Daniel Farke spoke about chasing “unrealistic” targets and using this run to drive their Premier League survival push.

The quarter-final at London Stadium finished level after 120 minutes, with Leeds then winning 4-2 in the shoot-out. Lucas Perri made two key saves, while Pascal Struijk converted the decisive kick to book a Wembley trip and extend Leeds’ longest gap between FA Cup semi-final appearances to 39 years.

That 39-year wait for a semi-final equals Leicester City’s gap before the 2020-21 last-four appearance, when Leicester went on to lift the trophy. Leeds also progressed from an FA Cup tie against Premier League opposition as a top-flight team for the first time since beating Arsenal in the 1996-97 fourth round.

The reward for Sunday’s win is a semi-final against eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea on the weekend of 25-26 April. Farke is fully aware of the challenge, saying: “We will be the underdog, that’s for sure. It’s a big name and a side full of top players. For that we are the underdog, but we have written history.”

Farke has stressed that this cup journey sits alongside league priorities, yet also reflects his ambitious outlook. When asked if Leeds can win the FA Cup, Farke told TNT Sports: “I said [in the past] it’s not realistic. We want to achieve unrealistic goals, and we are on the right path to do this. Step by step we want to celebrate a few more points in the Premier League. If we have a chance to play a second time at Wembley in the FA Cup this season we want to grab the chance with both hands.”

The head coach also highlighted how far the team have exceeded wider expectations. Continuing his thoughts on Chelsea and the campaign, Farke added: “Nobody expected us to go through to the semi-final. And, of course, we are greedy to go to the next step. My focus now is on the Premier League. We are on such a good path and want to make sure we can celebrate there.”

FA Cup semi-final pursuit, Leeds United statistics and match drama

The tie itself swung dramatically. Ao Tanaka opened the scoring with a composed strike, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin added a penalty, giving Leeds a 2-0 lead and control heading into the closing stages. West Ham, however, struck twice in second-half stoppage time through Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi, forcing extra-time and shifting the momentum.

West Ham then thought they had completed a turnaround in the additional period, but two efforts were disallowed for offside. The game produced heavy attacking numbers from both sides. This was only the second match between two Premier League teams in any competition this season where each recorded 20 or more shots, the other being Newcastle’s FA Cup tie with Bournemouth in January.

During the shoot-out, substitute goalkeeper Finlay Herrick gave West Ham an early advantage with a save from Joel Piroe’s first attempt. Leeds responded with flawless spot-kicks after that setback. Perri denied Jarrod Bowen and Pablo from 12 yards, allowing Struijk to convert and send Leeds through, underlining the squad’s capacity to respond under pressure.

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The broader statistical context of Leeds’ achievement was captured by Opta data analysts.

The data underlined how rare such long gaps between semi-final appearances have been in the competition’s history.

Leeds United, FA Cup semi-final run and Premier League survival outlook

Attention now turns quickly back to the league, with Leeds 15th in the Premier League table and four points above the relegation zone. The Opta supercomputer currently gives Leeds a 6.5% chance of relegation, ahead of a key derby away to Manchester United on 13 April, which follows this cup high.

Farke believes the West Ham win carries clear psychological value, even if it brings no league points. Speaking about the effect on the squad, Farke said: “In terms of points, it doesn’t help at all but each win is good for confidence, to know we can deliver under pressure and deal with setbacks. There was criticism about scoring goals in the last games, so it was good we put this to bed. It’s good for confidence and belief and spirit.”

For Leeds supporters and observers in the region and beyond, the season now includes both a serious survival battle and a rare FA Cup semi-final. The club must manage that balance, facing Chelsea at Wembley while also trying to secure safety, with Farke’s group showing resilience, productivity in attack against West Ham, and a growing belief that demanding targets can still be reached.