Leeds reach Wembley semi-final to face Chelsea as £15m Perri impresses | OneFootball

Leeds United have booked a Wembley semi-final for the first time in 39 years, a moment to savour for a generation. According to Leeds Live, Chelsea await in the capital, with more than 30,000 travelling fans expected.

Daniel Farke said the occasion means everything to supporters and, in turbulent times, he hopes the run can bring more light. Leeds are underdogs, but they have beaten Chelsea this season and drawn away, so belief will remain.

This was Lucas Perri’s first outing against Premier League opposition since he was dropped in January. Aside from one major lapse in extra time, the £15m summer signing impressed, producing sharp stops at West Ham and excelling in the shoot-out on Easter Sunday, having also denied Birmingham City in the fourth round. Farke acknowledged 2026 has not been straightforward for him, but he is moving in the right direction.

Leeds must still decide in the summer whether to recruit a new goalkeeper or stick with their current options. Perri can only keep delivering and cut out errors as he builds back towards a regular return.

Leeds ended a run of four matches without a goal against top-flight opponents, yet they conceded late again, twice in 11 added minutes. It is now 11 goals shipped after 90 minutes across all competitions, the most by any Premier League side.

Injuries added concern as a recently capped Germany midfielder went off and was later seen in a foot brace, with ankle ligament damage to be assessed. A defender also suffered an ankle problem and was withdrawn as a precaution, while a forward went off with suspected cramp. Whether eight days will be enough before Manchester United on Monday remains to be seen.

Source: Leeds Live