Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26 min The two players were jockeying for position when Calvert-Lewin\u2019s flailing hand briefly, very briefly, made contact with Cucurella\u2019s hair. It\u2019s been cleared by VAR, presumably because the contact was more even more fleeting than when Lisandro Martinez was sent off for pulling Calvert-Lewin\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n Calvert-Lewin thus avoids becoming the answer to a very niche quiz question of the future.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.29 EDT<\/p>\n 25 min There\u2019s a VAR check for a potential hairpull by Calvert-Lewin on Cucurella.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pascal Struijk had a split-second brainfreeze, 40 yards from the Leeds goal, and was robbed by Joao Pedro. He made ground and played the ball outside to Pedro Neto on the right. Neto stood up an excellent cross and Enzo Fernandez arrived late to slam a downward header into the net. A really good goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Leeds (Enzo Fernandez 23)<\/p>\n Chelsea\u2019s captain gives them the lead!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n He looks so sharp. A throw-in was partially cleared to Lavia. He wasted no time finding Fernandez, who cushioned a cute little pass into the area. Joao Pedro got to it first and hammered a left-foot shot from the angle. It beat Lucas Perri, hit the inside of the post and flashed across the face of goal.<\/p>\n Joao Pedro hits the post! Photograph: Nick Potts\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.29 EDT<\/p>\n 20 min A few players Chelsea<\/a> players appeal for handball when a hooked shot from Garnacho hits a Leeds defender in the area. No suggestion that it\u2019s being checked by VAR.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 19 min Chelsea are still dominating possession, but Leeds are growing into the game and they will always be a threat on the break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 17 min At the other end, Neto\u2019s shot from the edge of the area is blocked after good play by Joao Pedro.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16 min Aaronson didn\u2019t strike his shot with complete conviction, but it was still a pretty good effort that would have gone into the far corner but for Sanchez\u2019s save.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.19 EDT<\/p>\n 15 min: Big save by Sanchez!<\/p>\n Bogle pushes the ball infield to Calvert-Lewin, who in turn slides a brilliant first-time pass to put Aaronson through on goal. He drives a shot across goal and Sanchez stretches out his right leg to save.<\/p>\n That\u2019s an excellent stop. It was a beautifully weighted through pass from Calvert-Lewin too, the kind we often see from Harry Kane.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.19 EDT<\/p>\n 12 min After more patient passing, Caicedo lofts a superb straight pass to release Garnacho on the left side of the area. He tries to control the ball with the outside of his right foot, takes a heavy touch and can\u2019t keep the ball in play.<\/p>\n With a better first touch \u2013 he might have gone with his left foot \u2013 he\u2019d have had a shooting chance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11 min Chelsea have had 88% possession.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 9 min Chelsea are having plenty of the ball, with Joao Pedro looking sharp on his return to the side. The approach is similar to the Maresca\/Rosenior teams, lots of patient probing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6 min Joao Pedro does really well to hold off a Leeds defender and head a long punt from Sanchez back to Enzo Fernandez. He blasts a shot from 25 yards that is comfortably held by Lucas Perri.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min Tanaka hits a poor free-kick over the bar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2 min Gusto looks okay to continue, though he\u2019ll have to serve his 30 seconds off the field when Leeds take the free-kick. It\u2019s slightly to the left of centre, 20 yards from goal, with Tanaka and Gudmundsson over the ball\u2026<\/p>\n Malo Gusto is down injured. Photograph: Alan Stanford\/PPAUK\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.10 EDT<\/p>\n 1 min After 22 seconds, Okafor is fouled just outside the area by Caicedo. Chelsea<\/a> have a problem with Gusto, who has stayed down after being challenged by Tanaka at the start of that Leeds attack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min Chelsea kick off from right to left as we watch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Enzo Fernandez and Ethan Ampadu lead their teams onto the field. It\u2019s another gorgeous day at Wembley and the Leeds fans in particular are making a helluva racket.<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.03 EDT<\/p>\n Daniel Farke speaks to TNT Sports<\/p>\n double quotation mark[On Leeds playing their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987] We\u2019re happy that we were able to give this gift to our fantastic supporters. It\u2019s special and exciting but we are not just here to enjoy the moment \u2013 we want to be successful today. It\u2019s a difficult game. But we know that at our best, we have a chance to reach the final.<\/p>\n [On Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who starts his FA Cup game of the season] He has played here several times for his country so he\u2019s used to the stadium and the circumstances. I don\u2019t just judge him on goalscoring. His workload is crucial, his link play and hold-up play.<\/p>\n Lucas Perri fully deserves to play. He has been fantastic during the cup run.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>On the ball \u2013 guess the footballer<\/p>\n The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game<\/a>, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android \u2026 so what are you waiting for?<\/p>\n On the ball on the Guardian app. Photograph: The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Chelsea have also been in WSL action today. You can read all about their game at Everton, plus the latest in the Scottish title race and more, with our clockwatch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been a Leeds fan since I was a nipper,\u201d writes Jeremy Boyce, \u201cand I\u2019m old enough to remember the Trolleybuses on Briggate. As you say, Sir Don was manager last time we made it to an FA Cup final, but lest we forget, it ended, as did so many trophy campaigns under Revie, in disappointment, thanks to Sunderland\u2019s Ian Porterfield\u2019s goal and Jim Montgomery\u2019s amazing double save<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cSince those halcyon Revie days we\u2019ve had ups and downs (mostly downs) with occasional false dawns (Armfield, Wilkinson, O\u2019Leary, El Loco), and I think I speak for Nasties fans everywhere when I say we were filled with dread for what this season back in the Promised Land might bring, more so in November when results were poor.<\/p>\n \u201cAs it turns out it\u2019s been third promotion lucky for likeable Daniel Farke, so glad the board stuck with him. So we march on together up Wembley Way with a chance of a decent crack at staying up, and making our way to a fup final shellacking by relentless trophy winners Citeh.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s surely not been a much better moment to be playing the Blues, let\u2019s hope it\u2019s them drowning their sorrows with Muddy Waters and whisky sour afterwards. Extra time? Penalties? I suspect this one will be done and dusted in 90 minutes plus stoppages (see Rochdale – York yesterday).\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.37 EDT<\/p>\n Calum McFarlane\u2019s pre-match thoughts<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s been a difficult week. It\u2019s never nice when a manager loses his job, but you have to be adapt and be ready for a big challenge like Leeds United in a semi-final.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve tried to give the players what they need to be ready for this game \u2013 technically, tactically, psychologically. It\u2019s about getting them in the right headspace, having a clear gameplan and hopefully executing it well.<\/p>\n [Do you see this as a showcase for you?] No, not really. It\u2019s about doing a job for the club and the players; we\u2019re here as interim staff to support them. If we can get a positive result today it will give us some momentum going into the last four Premier League games.<\/p>\n [Cole Palmer] was close to being fit enough to start but we decided it made more sense to have him on the bench.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> The crate was crammed with bottles but Daniel Farke made light work of hoisting it on to a table and inviting everyone to help themselves. It was a little after 10.30 one night in April last year, an already-promoted Leeds had just beaten Bristol City, and the manager was offering journalists an end-of-season beer.<\/p>\n Such gestures are increasingly unusual in an ever-more corporate and sanitised sport, but Farke brings a human touch to proceedings. Indeed, his refreshingly down-to-earth approach is reminiscent of an illustrious title-winning predecessor. Behind a blunt exterior Howard Wilkinson was a caring manager who, spotting a journalist stranded outside Elland Road late one night, drove him home to Sheffield. It seems the sort of thing Farke might also do.<\/p>\n Coincidentally, Wilkinson and Farke are lovers of literary fiction who toyed with the idea of becoming novelists in their own right. While Wilkinson ultimately took a different path to his hero, DH Lawrence, Farke \u2013 a Gabriel Garc\u00eda M\u00e1rquez fan \u2013 wrote several chapters of a book before deeming it \u201ccrap\u201d and shoving the manuscript in a drawer.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Today\u2019s game is a repeat of the 1970 FA Cup final, when Chelsea<\/a> pipped Leeds in a replay at Old Trafford. That game was among the filthiest known to mankind, and I urge you to relive it with Scott Murray\u2019s retro MBM.<\/p>\n double quotation mark44 min: This is absolutely outrageous! Gray, back up, hobbles down the left. He doesn\u2019t really want a pass from Giles, but gets one anyway. He goes to hoick the ball up the wing, away from personal danger, but it\u2019s too late: Hutchinson comes sliding in, whipping Gray into the air like a greasy pancake. Recently injured, Gray understandably takes exception to this wild lunge. Less understandably, he responds by stamping on his assailant\u2019s leg. Hutchinson springs up and punches Gray right on the tip of his front tail. Right in the trousers! Those are two sendings off, right there, though the referee does nothing whatsoever and play goes on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Team news<\/p>\n Chelsea\u2019s caretaker manager Calum McFarlane has made three changes to the side that lost heavily to Brighton. Tosin Adarabioyo, Alejandro Garnacho and the fit again Joao Pedro replace Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato and Liam Delap. Cole Palmer is among the subs.<\/p>\n Just one change for Leeds. Lucas Perri, the hero of their quarter-final victory at West Ham, replaces Karl Darlow in goal.<\/p>\n Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Garnacho; Joao Pedro.<\/p>\n Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Delap, Palmer, Essugo, Santos, Hato, Fofana, Acheampong, Derry.<\/p>\n Leeds (3-4-2-1) Perri; Justin, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin.<\/p>\n Subs: Darlow, Rodon, Bornauw, Longstaff, Stach, James, Gnonto, Piroe, Nmecha.<\/p>\n Referee Jarred Gillett<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.07 EDT<\/p>\n Given Chelsea<\/a> supporters are pining for the old days, perhaps they can cheer themselves up by remembering glorious runs from some of the club\u2019s previous interim managers, although whether Calum McFarlane is capable of emulating the likes of Guus Hiddink, Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Ben\u00edtez looks like a long shot as another damaging week for the BlueCo project draws to a close.<\/p>\n Is this inexperienced young coach the man for a salvage operation? Fans will take some convincing after watching Chelsea\u2019s players not so much throw in the towel as not even bother to pick it up at all during Tuesday\u2019s defeat to Brighton, which saw off Liam Rosenior. Those heading to Wembley for Sunday\u2019s FA Cup<\/a> semi-final against Leeds will hope for a response but do not be surprised if they turn mutinous again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> It\u2019s hard to believe this is Leeds\u2019 first FA Cup<\/a> semi-final since 1987, when they lost a thriller against Coventry. The last time they reached the final, Don Revie was manager.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n The beauty \u2013 the point \u2013 of most football matches is that we don\u2019t know who\u2019s going to win. In today\u2019s FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea<\/a> and Leeds, it\u2019s not even clear who are the favourites to win.<\/p>\n Chelsea are Chelsea but they\u2019re also Chelsea, without a permanent manager (insert your own joke here) and on a run of seven increasingly miserable defeats in eight. Leeds, despite being in a relegation battle for most of the season, are unbeaten in almost two months.<\/p>\n With the exception of Arsenal, Leeds have been excellent against the big boys this season. That includes the two league games against Chelsea: a narrative-changing 3-1 win in December and a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in February.<\/p>\n The winners will play Manchester City on Saturday 16 May. Just don\u2019t ask me who it\u2019ll be.<\/p>\n Kick off 3pm.<\/p>\n![\"Leeds](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Leeds_Fans_FA_Cup_LOOP--6a792421-1d4a-48e8-9df2-46d40659b65b-1.0.0000000.jpg\")
Leeds fans make some noise at Wembley.Share<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Louise](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Louise-Taylor,-L.png\")
Louise Taylor<\/p>\n![\"Jacob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777213816_786_Jacob-Steinberg,-L.png\")
Jacob Steinberg<\/p>\n![\"Aaron](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Aaron_Bower.png\")
Aaron Bower<\/p>\n