The familiar London Stadium rush for the exit has never been so misjudged. A lot of West Ham fans decided they had seen enough when Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Leeds within touching distance of a first FA Cup semi-final since 1987, but how wrong they were.
The non-believers reckoned without their side forcing extra time with a wild fightback from 2-0 down and were not allowed back in to see a ridiculous game go the distance.
It ended with Finlay Herrick – a 20-year-old goalkeeper whose experience of senior football extended no further than 10 games during a loan spell with the National League side Boreham Wood this season – coming on for his West Ham debut after Alphonse Areola went down injured. Talk about a baptism of fire. Soon West Ham’s No 4 goalkeeper was in a penalty shootout. To add to the mix, it took place at the West Ham end amid unconfirmed suggestions that those in charge of stadium security did not want the kicks taken in front of the 9,000 travelling Leeds fans.
There was, of course, the usual coin toss before the shootout. It did not matter in the end. Herrick looked set to become one of the unlikeliest cup heroes when he saved Joël Piroe’s penalty. West Ham, though, could not see it through as they chased a first semi-final appearance since 2006. Lucas Perri responded by denying Jarrod Bowen and when the goalkeeper saved from Pablo Felipe it was left to Pascal Struijk to send Leeds through.
