LEEDS UNITED 1 (Freedman 90), CARLISLE UNITED 2 (Hackney 32, Bridge-Wilkinson 50)
Leeds: Ankergren, Richardson, Michalik, Huntington, Johnson, Kilkenny, Howson (Hughes 90), Douglas, Prutton (Carole 78), Beckford (Kandol 58), Freedman. Subs: Lucas, Marques.
Carlisle: Westwood, Arnison, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood, Grant Smith (Thirlwell 80), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, Hackney (Taylor 70), Dobie, Graham (Madine 90). Subs: Howarth, Campion.
Referee: A Bates
Bookings: Hughes (Leeds), Dobie, Arnison (Carlisle)
Att: 36,291 (1,008 Carlisle)
You can listen to live commentary on LUTV and see highlights and reaction on Tuesday...
Gary McAllister welcomed Jermaine Beckford to the fold for the first leg of the Play-Off semi-final after injury as United looked to make the most of home advantage.
The only empty seats in the stadium were in the South East Corner - where the visitors were housed - and the atmosphere was at fever pitch when the game kicked off.
Carlisle opted to defend the Kop end first half - much to the displeasure of the home supporters - and the game started at a fast and frenetic pace as both sides looked to make their mark on the contest.
Carlisle winger Scott Dobie was fortunate not to be the first name in the book after eight minutes when he hauled down Bradley Johnson, off the ball, as United mounted a quick break, but moments later there was the first real drama of the game.
Danny Graham escaped down the Carlisle left and his cross found Marc Bridge-Wilkinson unmarked in the area. The former Bradford man struck the ball sweetly first time, but Carlisle were denied by the upright.
Moments later, the action was at the other end as United came within a whisker of taking the lead. Dougie Freedman worked himself an opening on the edge of the box and visiting goalkeeper Keiren Westwood was at full stretch to get his fingertips to the ball to nudge it around the post.
The fast flow continued and Casper Ankergren was next into action when he spread himself well to block a Graham header. United's response was some superb passing on the break, culminating in Freedman curling a shot around the post.
With just 13 minutes on the clock, the tone appeared to be set with both sides going hell for leather.
The pace did, inevitably, slow after the opening burst, but tensions were running high and Dobie became the first booking of the contest on 23 minutes after showing his studs in a challenge on Lubo Michalik.
Six minutes later it was United who were surging forward again and Westwood made another full-stretch save to deny Beckford with a curling effort.
At the other end, Graham won a corner for Carlisle when he attemped to slip a shot beneath the body of the advancing Ankergren. And it was from that corner that the visitors snatched the lead. Simon Hackney seized upon the ball after the corner was half-cleared and his strike took a big deflection to leave Ankergren stranded.
United almost responded with an equaliser six minutes before the break. Freedman was again involved, and Jonathan Douglas finished the move by firing straight at Westwood..
On 42 minutes there were cries of a 'pass-back' by the United fans after Beckford was crowded out by the Carlisle defence and Westwood claimed the ball after one of his own players had the final touch.
There were no such shouts 30 seconds later when Neil Kilenny carved open the defence for Beckford with a delightful pass, but the striker's finish was narrowly wide.
Again, Carlisle responded, though, and Ankegren had to be brave to dive at the feet of Graham.
Worryingly, Carlisle should have drawn first blood in the second half when Bridge-Wilkinson seized upon a loose ball, but Ankergren reacted well to deny the visiting midfielder.
That warning wasn't heeded, though, and in the 50th minute, Hackney escaped down the left and, just as in the league game at Elland Road a month ago, his low cross provided a goal. Bridge-Wilkinson profited, converting from close range.
As the game approached the hour-mark, McAllister made an enforced change with Tresor Kandol replacing Beckford, who appeared to be troubled his ankle problem.
Kandol's first involvement was to provoke a penalty shout from the crowd when he took a tumble in the box, and as the crowd roared, Douglas saw a shot well-blocked.
United rallied, though, and Westwood pulled off a save on 68 minutes when he tipped a looping header over the bar.
As the clock ticked past the 70-minute mark there was a third penalty shout from United when David Prutton felt his shot had hit a Carlisle hand as Leeds pressed for a way back into the game.
McAllister made his second substitution on 78 minutes when he brought on Seb Carole for Prutton.
United were in need of a goal to reduce the arrears, and Kilkenny tried his luck from 25 yards with an effort that went over the top.
And with a little over three minutes remaining, United were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. Johnson stepped up and his curler was headed into the stand by a Carlisle defender as the visitors protected their lines.
It prompted a succssion of corners and Paul Huntington had one header blocked on the line before Kandol headed another into the arms of Westwood.
Four minutes of stoppage time gave United added hope, and Andrew Hughes was introduced in place of Jonny Howson for the final moments.
The substitute did pick up a booking - after appearing to be the victim - and just as it appeared there was going to be little to smile about for Leeds, Freedman snatched a last-gasp goal.
It was the fifth minute of stoppage time when the loan man struck what could prove to be the most important goal of the season with a clinical finish from close range.
It means United will now head to Carlisle for the second leg on Thursday, trailing 2-1 in the tie.
