Leeds given late lifeline

Dougie Freedman threw Leeds a promotion lifeline deep into stoppage-time to make it 2-1 after Carlisle had stolen a march in the first leg of their Coca-Cola League One play-off semi-final.

Danny Graham and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson had stunned another full house at Elland Road with goals in each half to give Carlisle a big advantage.

But on-loan Crystal Palace striker Freedman latched onto Paul Huntington's long ball into the box and forced the ball home in the fifth minute of time added on to give Leeds - second best for long periods - a fighting chance.

Graham knew little of his first-half opener when Simon Hackney's volley deflected off the Carlisle striker's backside and beyond wrong-footed Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren into the net.

Bridge-Wilkinson converted Evan Horwood's cross in more emphatic fashion at the far post seven minutes after the interval to give John Ward's side a commanding two-goal cushion.

Carlisle had won only one of their last eight league matches, while Leeds had taken 18 points from their last seven, but the Cumbrians harried and pressed, outpassed and outmanoeuvred their more illustrious rivals to put themselves in the driving seat for a place in the Wembley final.

But Freedman's late show means it is all still to play for when the two teams meet for the second leg at Brunton Park on Thursday.