FA Cup Awards: Leeds win West Ham thriller, Classy Cherki
FA Cup Awards: Leeds win West Ham thriller, Classy Cherki Our FA Cup Awards honour the best – and worst – of this weekend’s quarter-final action, featuring Leeds’ thrilling win at West Ham and Rayan Cherki. Moment of the Week It’s impossible not to start with the chaos that was West Ham vs Leeds United . The game looked like a routine win for Leeds, who controlled the contest at the London Stadium, holding a seemingly insurmountable two-goal lead as the game entered stoppage time.
A mammoth 11 minutes from the fourth official changed the mood, and West Ham were lifted. Mateus Fernandes pulled a goal back before Axel Disasi turned in a second to force extra time. Many West Ham fans had already headed for the exits, and several who had done so soon did a U-turn.
Extra time was no less chaotic. Twice, West Ham had goals disallowed in an end-to-end clash, before the Hammers were forced to bring on Fin Herrick for his debut in goal after Alphonse Areola was injured. The youngster saved the first spot-kick of the shootout and certainly did his bit to distract Leeds, but it was the visitors who held their nerve to reach Wembley.
A brilliant, brilliant FA Cup tie. Player of the Week Manchester City made light work of a lousy Liverpool in a statement win from Pep Guardiola’s side. Erling Haaland’s hat-trick hogged the headlines, but it was Rayan Cherki who was, arguably, the best player on the pitch.
The Frenchman is a fantastic watch and has been a real addition to English football this season. He taunted Liverpool with moments of close control and evasive footwork, and was involved in almost everything good from the Citizens. Liverpool couldn’t get near him.