Dougie Freedman struck in the sixth minute of injury-time to hand Leeds United a crucial play-off lifeline at Elland Road.

The striker scuffed home a desperate long ball from Paul Huntington with virtually the last kick of the game to restrict Carlisle to a 2-1 victory on a tough night at Elland Road.

United's promotion challenge was hanging by a thread after goals in either half from Danny Graham and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson gave Carlisle a 2-0 lead in the first leg of the League One semi-final.

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John Ward's side made the better of an absorbing match which set off at a frantic pace, but both teams could have opened the scoring during the first 20 minutes.

Freedman and Jermaine Beckford saw curling effort tipped wide by Carlisle goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, while Bridge-Wilkinson's fierce volley at the other end was kept out by the post.

Graham then saw an effort pushed off the goalline by Casper Ankergren, but Carlisle snatched the opening goal in the 31st minute with a deflected strike.

A headed clearance from Bridge-Wilkinson's corner fell to Simon Hackney, whose volley from the corner of the penalty box clipped Graham and left Ankergren flat-footed and helpless as the ball flew into his net.

Westwood kept out another Beckford shot with his legs shortly before half-time, and Ankergren rescued Leeds after the interval when he parried a low effort from Bridge-Wilkinson.

But the reprieve was brief, and United's position worsened on 50 minutes when Bridge-Wilkinson turned home a sharp cross from Evan Horwood eight yards from goal.

United applied increasing pressure to Carlisle's defence as the match wore on and Westwood's fingertip save turned a header from Jonathan Douglas over the crossbar, and Freedman's close-range effort set Elland Road alight at the death to keep Leeds in touch ahead of Thursday's second leg at Brunton Park.