With Leeds trailing 2-0 to Carlisle United at the end of what had been a pulsating play-off semi-final first leg and staring into the abyss of another season in League One, the veteran struck to give Gary McAllister's side a much-needed lifeline.

The late, late goal from Freedman may yet prove to be in vain with Carlisle only needing to draw Thursday's return to reach Wembley.

But there can be little doubt that without his dramatic intervention, Leeds would be facing an even tougher uphill battle against a Cumbrian side with the best home record in the regular League One season.

One thing is for sure, McAllister's men will have to improve markedly on their often disjointed efforts last night when John Ward's gameplan ensured the visitors were able to seize the initiative.

Carlisle were, quite simply, superb with their manager's tactic of employing Danny Graham, once a loanee at Elland Road, as the lone frontman with Marc Bridge-Wilkinson getting forward at every opportunity from midfield causing all manner of problems for the hosts.

Ward's deployment of Chris Lumsdon just in front of his back four also proved to be a masterstroke with the midfielder breaking up countless home attacks.

It was Bridge-Wilkinson, however, who made the greatest impact with no-one in the United side taking responsibility to try and stifle the former Bradford City midfielder.

His darting runs into the penalty area were a constant feature of the game, this never being more evident than in the 50th minute when Bridge-Wilkinson ghosted in at the back post to convert a tantalising cross from Evan Horwood to put Carlisle 2-0 ahead.

Coming on the back of the visitors' 31st minute opener when Graham had diverted a Simon Hockney shot past Casper Ankergren, it allowed the Cumbrians to suddenly change tack and start to defend in numbers.

And this safety first approach looked to have worked perfectly with Leeds, no matter how much they huffed and puffed in the closing stages, unable to find a way through.

That was, however, until the sixth minute of stoppage time when Paul Huntington swung over a deep cross from the right that was met by Tresor Kandol at the back post.

The ball bounced into the six-yard box and as Carlisle dithered, Freedman swung his foot to shoot past Keiran Westwood. The celebrations that followed were a mixture of jubilation and relief with the majority of the 36,291 crowd knowing their team had got out of jail. Even so, there is no doubting the advantage is still with Carlisle even if Leeds will be able to cling to the positive of how many chances they created despite rarely hitting the heights in terms of performance.

This was particularly the case during an amazingly open first half when Westwood did brilliantly to twice turn efforts from Freedman and Jermiane Beckford round the post.

The Carlisle goalkeeper also denied Beckford with a timely block after racing from his line after the United top scorer had been released by Neil Kilkenny.

Westwood was also in fine form after the break with a tip over after Jonathan Douglas had risen highest at the far post to head back across goal.

Paul Huntington also went close with a shot from close range, while Paul Arnison bravely headed a thunderous Bradley Johnson shot to safety. One area in which Leeds will have to improve in Thursday's return is at the back where the likes of Huntington and Bradley Johnson struggled.

It was, in fact, a poorly-executed pass from the makeshift left-back that led to the opening goal, Frazer Richardson being unable to control the bouncing ball and allowing Carlisle to eventually win the corner that led to Hackney's shot eventually being deflected past Ankergren by Graham.

It was a similar tale for the second goal and if United are to fight their way back into the tie on Thursday night, there will have to be a big improvement.

Leeds United: Ankergren; Richardson, Michalik, Huntington, Johnson; Kilkenny, Douglas, Howson (Hughes 90), Prutton (Carole 78); Beckford (Kandol 58), Freedman. Unused substitutes: Lucas, Marques.

Carlisle United: Westwood; Arnison, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood; Dobie, Grant Smith (Thirlwell 80), Lumsdon, Hackney (Taylor 69); Bridge-Wilkinson; Graham (Madine 90). Unused substitutes: Howarth, Campion.

Referee: A Bates (Staffordshire).