JACK MARRIOTT climbed off the bench and scored twice as Derby fought back to win an incredible Championship play-off classic at Elland Road.
Leeds – already 1-0 up from the first leg – looked to be cruising into the final when Scott Dallas fired them into a 24th-minute lead and 2-0 on aggregate.
But Derby scored THREE goals in THIRTEEN mad minutes to completely turn this semi-final upside down.
First, just before the break, Jack Marriott, who had only been on the field for 33 seconds, scored with his first touch.
Then, straight after the break, Chelsea star Mason Mount fired in a second.
Liam Cooper then tugged Mount’s shirt in the 58th minute and ref Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot for Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson to send Leeds keeper Kiko Casilla the wrong way.
But Dallas scored his second to bring Leeds back level on aggregate four minute later.
He scored as many tonight as he had in his previous 52 appearances at Elland Road.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side were then reduced to ten men when Gaetano Berardi was sent off for a second booking, chopping down Bradley Johnson, with 12 minutes left.
It looked like Derby had missed their big chance to clinch it when Wilson struck the right post when through on goal.
But with five minutes left the Rams stunned Elland Road again.
Mount drove at the Leeds defence before laying the ball to Richard Keogh. His ball was perfect for Marriott to calmly dink the ball over Casilla.
Both teams ended with ten men as Scott Malone was also sent off in injury time.
You could say after Leeds were caught spying on Derby’s training ground in January that this was poetic justice for Frank Lampard’s side.
There was more than 100 fans queuing outside the famous Graveley’s Fish ‘n Chips nearly two hours before kick-off in the basking evening Yorkshire sunshine.
The nerves among them was evident. “Let’s not f*** this up,” one said, while munching on his chips and gravy.
Just like that particular chip shop does proper Yorkshire cuisine, Leeds United have been renowned for doing proper messing things up.
They should have gone up automatically this season – but a stunning late collapse that saw them pick up just three points from their last nine games.
Leeds handed out 30,00 complimentary “We are Leeds” scarves, which sat on their seats and virtually everyone held them aloft to create a sea of white before kick-off.
LEEDS THROW LEAD AWAY
Fikayo Tomori picked up an early booking for hacking down Patrick Bamford.
Luke Ayling had an early effort but it looped up easily for Derby keeper Kelle Roos.
Derby had a fantastic chance to go in front early on after Casilla made a hash of a clearance. The ball fell to Harry Wilson, but his shot from 20 yards was off target when he really should have been hitting it.
However, he had been fouled in the process but Mason Mount saw his free-kick deflected over.
Ref Taylor booked Derby’s Tom Lawrence and Malone as well as Pablo Hernandez all in one go.
Malone was booked for bringing down Hernandez, who was also shown yellow for making a meal out if by clutching his face and putting his head into Malone's chest when getting up.
Lawrence had his name taken for dissent, shouting in the face of the Prem ref, who needed every ounce of his experience.
But Leeds moved in front to send Elland Road into raptures.
Kalvin Phillips sent in a nicely-weighted free-kick and the ball bounced, coming back off the right-hand upright. Roos was sprawling and Dallas was on hand to turn the ball home.
Leeds were denied doubling their lead when Mateusz Klitch drilled a 20-yarder that took a deflection and crashed back off the bar.
Bamford had a chance too after Phillips won the ball in midfield and sent him on his way with a lovely pass.
But the Leeds striker’s eventual shot from the edge of the box was tamely hit.
The Yorkshiremen were dominating and Jack Harrison played in a wonderful whipped ball across the face of goal which just evaded Hernandez.
Mason Bennett so nearly gave Derby a lifeline out of nowhere but his header struck the post.
But the Rams pulled back when Liam Cooper and Casilla made a complete pig’s ear of communicating – and Marriott coolly cashed in by slotting home.
RAMS RAID
And after the break, the Rams incredibly went in front straight away to level the aggregate score at 2-2.
Old campaigner Keogh surged forward and played a ball into Wilson.
He turned and cut open the Leeds defence for Mount to run on to and fire past Casilla.
Harrison almost had Leeds back in front in the tie but saw his fierce shot blocked by Jayden Bogle.
Derby, though, were simply playing out of their skins and remarkably went 3-1 up and 3-2 on aggregate.
Tom Lawrence tried to play a ball into Mount, who had his shirt pulled by Cooper. Taylor pointed to the spot and Wilson kept his composure to find the bottom corner and send Casilla the wrong way.
You could cut what had been a partisan and hostile atmosphere with a knife, the place fell almost silent.
But Leeds were not to be done yet and they managed to get themselves level on aggregate in the 62nd minute.
Dallas, who was having a brilliant game, ran down the left and got on the end of nice ball from Klich. He cut inside and blasted a right-footed effort past Roos.
But there was one final twice with Marriott's winner and Leeds have messed it up again.
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