Worthington Cup: Leicester 2, Leeds United 1; by Richard Sutcliffe, at Filbert Street.

Two dreadful blunders in the final two minutes cost Leeds United a place in the quarter-final of the Worthington Cup on a night of high drama at Filbert Street.

Leeds looked as if they had chalked up a deserved victory as an entertaining and open game moved into its 89th minute.

Harry Kewell had struck for Leeds in the 17th minute courtesy of a terrible mistake by Leicester goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who allowed the Australian's header to somehow slip past him into the net.

United should have at least doubled that lead long before the end but even allowing for their wasteful performance in front of goal, David O'Leary's side looked full value for a victory.

United had produced easily their best performance since the Irishman took charge with their crisp passing game being allied with the one ingredient that has been missing in recent weeks - flair.

However football does have a tendency to kick a team in the teeth when they least expect it and that is what happened to Leeds last night.

Apart from a ten-minute spell before half-time, Leicester had never looked like scoring against a Leeds defence in which teenager Jonathon Woodgate was outstanding.

But, with just one minute left on the clock, a dreadful error from Nigel Martyn handed Leicester their lifeline when he raced out of his area to head away a long, hopeful ball from Rob Ullathorne.

Unfortunately for the Leeds goalkeeper his weak clearance went straight to Muzzy Izzet and he volleyed a 25-yard shot over the head of the back-pedalling Martyn and into the net.

And as if that wasn't bad enough for Leeds, Izzett then managed to get away from Robert Molenaar two minutes into stoppage time before the Dutchman needlessly pushed him to the ground.

Referee Paul Durkin immediately pointed to the spot and Garry Parker duly broke Leeds' hearts by firing the spot kick into the net.

O'Leary said: "I thought it was a game we dominated and one we completely threw away. We brought them back into it with a stupid mistake. The keeper should never have come that far out. It is very disappointing."

Leicester boss Martin O'Neill agreed his side had been let off the hook and said: "We were second best tonight. Leeds played better than us throughout the evening, and it looked like it just wasn't going to happen for us."

O'Leary plumped for a 4-4-2 formation with Bruno Ribeiro restored to the midfield and Clyde Wijnhard returned to the attack alongside Jimmy Hasselbaink.

And he was rewarded for this much more adventurous approach with a superb display from his side. Ribeiro added some much needed flair on the ball while Kewell and David Hopkin also enjoyed their most effective game in weeks.

Unfortunately for the Leeds boss, his side failed to kill off Leicester despite a hatful of chances and were made to pay by the late, late show from the home side.

l Leicester's reward for victory is a home tie with Blackburn who beat Newcastle in a penalty shoot-out at St James Park after a 1-1 draw.

Two goals by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer inside three minutes enabled Manchester United to beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 and clinch a quarter final tie at Tottenham.

Second Division Luton face a tough trip to Division One leaders Sunderland who triumphed on penalties at Peter Reid's old club Everton.

Chelsea's reward for a crushing 5-0 win over champions Arsenal is a difficult away trip to Wimbledon.

Worthington Cup Fifth Round: Wimbledon v Chelsea Tottenham v Man Utd Sunderland v Luton Leicester v Blackburn Ties to be played week beginning November 30.

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