UNITED 1 (Crowe 56), CARLISLE 2 (Kavanagh 21, Anyinsah 84)
United: Ankergren, Crowe, Bromby, Naylor, Hughes, Howson, Kilkenny, Johnson, Snodgrass, Grella (Becchio 83), Beckford. Subs: R Jones, Doyle, Michalik, White.
Carlisle: Pidgeley, Livesey, Keogh, Harte, Horwood, Robson, Kavanagh (Bridge-Wilkinson 83), Hurst, Taiwo, Clayton, Dobie (Anyinsah 67). Subs: Collin, Offiong, Murphy.
Referee: A Penn
Booked: Johnson (Leeds), Clayton (Carlisle).
Att: 13,011
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After picking up one point from the last six, Simon Grayson's League One leaders turned their attentions towards the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and the first leg of the Northern Area Final against Carlisle United.
With a place at Wembley up for grabs, Grayson tinkered slightly with his team, Jason Crowe, Jonny Howson, and Mike Grella all being drafted into the starting line-up.
Carlisle were the last side to win at Elland Road in a league game, but it was Leeds who started brightly and after Leigh Bromby headed an early free-kick over the top, Jermaine Beckord came within a whisker of opening the scoring following a great ball from Bradley Johnson.
But it took a great goal-line clearance from
Andrew Hughes to deny Carlisle on 12 minutes after the United defender scrambled back to block a shot. Moments later, Bromby showed real quality to deny Scott Dobie after
Casper Ankergren had done well to parry at Robson shot across the face of goal.
It was United who fashioned out the next chance in an entertaining opening, Beckford having a shot pushed for a corner following good work by Robert Snodgrass.
A goal was clearly coming, and it fell to Carlisle in stunning fashion on 21 minutes. A cross from the left was headed down to Graham Kavanagh and the veteran midfielder, just inside the box, allowed the ball to bounce before slamming home an unstoppable shot to give the visitors the lead.
United responded courtesy of the lively Beckford, who was denied by Lenny Pidgeley in the Carlisle goal. Beckford was denied again by a good block before Johnson had an effort deflected for a corner.
Leeds came even closer on 35 minutes when Richard Naylor was twice thwarted and Mike Grella forced Pidgeley into making a great save, following an overhead kick. United also had two shouts for handball waved away during a concerted spell of pressure.
Leeds were dominant by now, and as the game edged towards half-time, Beckford was denied by an upright after latching onto another incisive pass.
But Ankergren was called upon to make a good block on 38 minutes when Adam Clayton tried his luck from distance.
With 45 minutes of the first leg remaining, United looked to start the second half well in a bid to get back on level terms in the contest.
And Leeds were quickly level, courtesy of a Jason Crowe header. Andrew Hughes was the provider with a cross from the left and as Carlisle goalkeeper Pidgeley came racing off his line, Crowe was waiting to pounce with a well-placed header at the far post.
Moments later, Crowe found himself with another opportunity at the far post, but this time he lifted his shot over the top. And it was Leeds who continued to look the most threatening of the two sides, with Beckford again going close.
On 70 minutes, Pidgeley came off his line well to deny Howson after a great ball from Snodgrass, and moments later from another cross, ths time from the left, Johnson fired just wide of the upright.
Carlisle had rarely had a sniff in the second half with Leeds dominating, but the visitors did have a half-chance when, after being presented with a header following a half-cleared corner, Kevan Hurst nodded wide.
But six minutes from time, the visitors bagged got themselves back in front. Former United defender Ian Harte sent over a free-kick and substitute Joe Anyinsah escaped the United defence to head home.
The goal was ill-deserved, and United came within a whisker of restoring parity in the second minute of stoppage time. First, Luciano Becchio had a header well saved and, following up, Howson saw his effort hacked off the line by a Carlisle defender.
And that proved to be the last opportunity of the first leg as Carlisle became the first side since Liverpool to win at Elland Road. It was Carlisle's third win in four visits to Leeds and the Cumbrians will hold a slender advantage going into the second leg at Brunton Park early next month.
