Pascal Struijk relishes Wembley ‘second chance’ and says Leeds can face Chelsea with belief | OneFootball

Pascal Struijk buried the clinching spot-kick as Leeds edged West Ham on penalties to reach Wembley, a moment he framed as a long-awaited second chance after injury kept him out last time. “It’s incredible,” he said.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the 26-year-old arrived from Ajax on a free in 2018 and has lived the club’s extremes, from Marcelo Bielsa’s title lift behind closed doors to playing left-back under Sam Allardyce as relegation bit. He missed the previous Wembley final during Daniel Farke’s first season due to injury.

Leeds were 2-0 up with the away end bouncing and many home fans departing, but they conceded twice and were dragged into extra time. In the shootout Lucas Perri saved two Hammers penalties before Struijk made it 4-2, sending 9,000 travelling supporters into delirium.

“Amazing,” he said, before reflecting on the relief after 120 minutes and suggesting that winning in such fashion might even feel better.

Just before speaking in the mixed zone he learned Chelsea await on the weekend of April 25. Leeds beat them comfortably at Elland Road earlier this season and fought back from two down to draw at Stamford Bridge. “We go down to Wembley with nothing to lose, all to play for,” he said.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk