West Ham 2-2 (Pen 2-4) Leeds United Player Ratings: Hammers Lose on Penalties as Leeds Reach FA Cup Semifinals

The West Ham vs Leeds FA Cup quarter-final delivered everything fans could ask for, as Leeds United booked their place in the next round after a dramatic penalty shootout victory.

Leeds looked comfortable for most of the match and seemed set for a straightforward win. Ao Tanaka gave them the lead in the first half with a calm finish, before Leeds doubled their advantage from the penalty spot after the break.

With the game appearing all but over, West Ham United produced an incredible late comeback.

In the final moments of stoppage time, Mateus Fernandes pulled one back to give the home fans hope. Seconds later, Axel Disasi scored a dramatic last-minute equaliser, making it 2-2 and sending the crowd into celebration.

The match then moved into extra time, where both sides pushed hard but could not find a winning goal. After 120 tense minutes, the quarter-final had to be decided on penalties.

In the shootout, Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri stepped up as the hero. He made two crucial saves, helping Leeds hold their nerve and seal a famous cup victory.

One of the biggest talking points in the West Ham vs Leeds player ratings discussion will be Perri’s match-winning performance, while West Ham’s dramatic stoppage-time fightback also gave fans a night to remember.

Key Takeaways

1. Ao Tanaka gave Leeds the lead in the first half before they added a second from the penalty spot.
2. West Ham scored twice in stoppage time, through Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi, to force extra time.
3. Lucas Perri saved two penalties in the shootout to send Leeds into the FA Cup semi-finals.

West Ham Player Ratings vs Leeds United

Check out West Ham player ratings from the FA Cup quarterfinal:

Goalkeeper

Alphonse Areola - 7.0: He made five saves throughout the 120 minutes, including a couple of really crucial ones inside the box. Couldn't do much about the goals he conceded. A solid if unspectacular outing before being forced off with an injury late on.

Finlay Herrick - 7.5: Thrown into the fire for the penalty shootout. What a moment for the youngster. He stepped up and saved Joël Piroe's penalty, giving his team a chance. A massive contribution in his very brief appearance.

Defenders

Kyle Walker-Peters - 7.0: A typically all-action performance from the fullback. He won an incredible 11 duels and made four successful tackles. However, an error did lead to a shot and he picked up a late yellow card. He showed nerves of steel to score his penalty.

Maximilian Kilman - 5.0: A day to forget for the centre-back. His foul for the penalty was clumsy and ultimately gave Leeds a 2-0 lead. While he made a number of clearances, that single moment was a game-defining error from our perspective. The yellow card was just salt in the wound.

Axel Disasi - 8.0: Scored the miraculous 96th-minute equalizer that sent the game to extra time. That moment of heroism overshadows everything else. He was also a beast defensively, winning his aerial duels and recovering the ball 10 times. A true warrior's performance.

El Hadji Malick Diouf - 7.0: A really bright spark on the left flank. He put in some dangerous crosses, creating two chances for his teammates. Worked tirelessly for his 106 minutes and seemed to link up well with the attack before being substituted.

Midfielders

Adama Traoré - 9.0: What stood out to us was his sheer, unadulterated chaos. Our man of the match, without a doubt. He was simply unplayable. He provided the assists for both of West Ham's dramatic late goals, created six chances in total, and completed eight dribbles. The driving force behind the comeback and the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Mateus Fernandes - 8.5: Scored the goal that sparked the incredible comeback, popping up in the right place at the right time. Beyond the goal, he was excellent, controlling the tempo with 90% pass accuracy and winning 10 duels. A fantastic, energetic display.

Jarrod Bowen - 6.5: It just wasn't his day. The captain was so unlucky, hitting the woodwork twice with stinging shots. He was always involved and created three chances, but his final touch was missing. To cap it all off, he saw his penalty saved in the shootout.

Soungoutou Magassa - 5.5: A quiet first half from the midfielder. He struggled to get into the rhythm of the game and was hooked at half-time. He lost possession a few too many times for our liking.

Freddie Potts - 5.5: Similar to his midfield partner, he couldn't impose himself on the game in the first 45 minutes. He was tidy enough on the ball but lacked the influence needed and was also substituted at the break.

Forwards

Taty Castellanos - 5.0: A genuine nightmare in front of goal. From our perspective, he could have won the game single-handedly. He missed three big chances, hit the post, and was caught offside three times. Despite getting into great positions, his finishing was abysmal.

Substitutes

Pablo - 5.0: Brought on at halftime to add a different dimension. He got into some good positions but his missed penalty in the shootout proved incredibly costly for his team.

Tomás Soucek - 6.5: Came on and did what he does best, adding some much-needed physicality and control to the midfield. He confidently dispatched his penalty in the shootout.

Mohamadou Kanté - 6.0: A late introduction in extra time. Looked lively but missed a decent chance to be the hero.

Ollie Scarles - N/A: Came on late in extra time with little opportunity to make an impact.

Ezra Mayers - N/A: A very late sub in the final moments of extra time.

Manager

N. Simões Espírito Santo - 6.5: Credit where it's due, his team showed unbelievable character to fight back from 2-0 down. The substitutions at half-time seemed to work. However, the initial setup was poor and they were second-best for 75 minutes. Ultimately, they fell short in the shootout.

Leeds United Player Ratings vs West Ham United

Check out Leeds United player ratings from the match:

Goalkeeper

Lucas Perri - 9.0: The undisputed hero for Leeds. He made four good saves during the match itself, but his performance in the penalty shootout was legendary. Saving two penalties from Jarrod Bowen and Pablo won the tie for his team. A colossal performance between the sticks.

Defenders

Pascal Struijk - 8.0: A commanding presence at the back. He made an impressive nine clearances and won nine of his duels. What surprised us was his contribution going forward, creating three chances for his teammates. A complete defensive performance.

Joe Rodon - 6.5: He was having a steady and composed game, keeping things tight at the back. It was a real shame his evening was cut short by injury just after halftime. Leeds looked a little less secure after he went off.

Jaka Bijol - 8.5: An absolute mountain at the heart of the defence. He was immense, winning 11 of 13 duels and making a staggering 12 clearances. He read the game beautifully and was a rock that West Ham struggled to get past for most of the match.

James Justin - 6.5: A difficult assignment against the rampant Adama Traoré. He stuck to his task diligently and made some important clearances and tackles. However, he was given a torrid time in the second half and extra time.

Midfielders

Jayden Bogle - 6.5: An energetic performance down the right. He created a big chance and was always looking to get forward. He did, however, find it tough defensively and picked up a booking for a cynical foul.

Ethan Ampadu - 7.5: The captain put in a real shift. He was everywhere in the midfield, making six interceptions and recovering the ball nine times. A tireless and combative display, though he blotted his copybook with a yellow card.

Ao Tanaka - 8.0: Scored a well-taken opening goal to put his side in control. His passing was crisp and intelligent, with a 91% accuracy rate. He was a key figure until he was substituted, providing the base for Leeds' control.

Forwards

Lukas Nmecha - 5.5: A frustrating evening for the striker. He struggled to get involved in the game, losing most of his duels and picking up a needless yellow card. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Noah Okafor - 7.5: He was very lively during his time on the pitch. He provided a clever assist for the opening goal and was a constant threat with his movement. His departure seemed to take some of the sting out of the Leeds attack.

Anton Stach - N/A: Unfortunate to have his match ended by injury after just 38 minutes. He had a couple of shots and was looking to get involved before he was forced off.

Substitutes

Brenden Aaronson - 8.0: An absolutely game-changing substitution. His direct running won the penalty that put Leeds 2-0 up. He then showed great composure to score his spot-kick in the shootout. A massive impact.

Sebastiaan Bornauw - 6.5: Came on for the injured Joe Rodon and slotted in seamlessly. He was solid and didn't put a foot wrong under immense pressure.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 8.0: The perfect impact sub. He came on, buried his penalty in normal time with ice in his veins, and then scored again in the shootout. Clinical and decisive.

Wilfried Gnonto - 7.0: Added pace and trickery to the attack. He looked dangerous whenever he got the ball and coolly scored his penalty in the shootout.

Ilia Gruev - 6.5: Brought on to shore up the midfield and did his job well. Kept possession ticking over and was composed.

Joël Piroe - N/A: Only seen for the penalty shootout, where his opening kick was unfortunately saved.

Manager

D. Farke - 8.0: His game plan was perfect for 90 minutes. His team controlled the match and his substitutes, particularly Aaronson and Calvert-Lewin, made a huge impact. While his side capitulated late on, he kept them calm for the shootout, and they delivered. A huge win.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Lucas Perri.