LEEDS United beat Fleetwood on penalties tonight to deny former boss Uwe Rosler an upset in the first round of the EFL Cup.

Substitute Marcus Antonsson spared Leeds' blushes with a late equaliser which took the game to extra-time, before the Sky Bet Championship side won a tense penalty shoot-out 5-4.

Leeds started the game at pace, pouring forward in numbers – but their League One opponents were more than a match for their head coach's former employers and they took a 13th-minute lead.

David Ball's corner was not cleared with any kind of confidence, the return ball taking a touch off Victor Nirennold, before being bundled home at the back post by Aaron Holloway – giving the former Wycombe forward a first Fleetwood goal.

A second very nearly followed, Holloway again allowed free rein inside the Leeds box from a Ball corner, with a vital block on the line from Kyle Bartley denying the hosts.

Leeds struggled to make inroads against a resolute Fleetwood back line. Kemar Roofe stung the palms of Chris Neal with a 20-yard blast but Leeds were far from Championship class in the opening 45 minutes.

After the break the visitors went on the offensive. Roofe grazing the post with a 25-yard rocket and former Swansea man Pablo Hernandez went closer still – seeing a goalbound blast pushed around the post by Neal.

Fleetwood threw on a third centre-half to stem the tide but could not hold Leeds back and in the 89th minute Roofe skipped past Conor McLaughlin and picked out Antonsson, who turned and blasted into the top corner from close range.

Alex Mowatt nearly won it for the visitors deep into stoppage time, with Neal's fingertips taking the tie into extra-time.

Within minutes of the restart the Championship club had turned things around.

Antonsson went down inside the box under a heavy challenge from Ashley Eastham, and Chris Wood made no mistake with the spot-kick.

It seemed to be all over, with Leeds cruising towards the second round.

But when Monk's men switched off for a moment Fleetwood struck, Eggert Jonsson picking out Hunter, free inside the box, a composed finish levelling matters once more and taking the game to penalties.

Both sides converted their first four spot kicks, but when Hernandez converted from 12 yards the pressure was on Jonsson – the Icelander was unable to find a way past Robert Green.