Derby County 1 - 1 Leeds United

Kinkladze, part of an inspired three-man substitution, had been on the pitch barely three minutes when he tore the Leeds defence apart - cutting in from the right and beating three men before curling an exquisite left-foot shot past Nigel Martyn.

Until then, Smith's 10-man side had looked dead and buried following a first-half goal from Leeds defender Ian Harte and the dismissal of Argentine defender Horacio Carbonari in the 36th minute for a foul on Leeds striker Michael Bridges.

It was Carbonari's second dismissal in a week.

The visitors had taken the lead two minutes before the sending-off, thanks to Harte's spectacular 35-yard free-kick.

To their credit, however, Derby refused to capitulate and almost snatched an equaliser four minutes into the second half, only for England keeper Martyn to dive spectacularly and push Deon Burton's 20-yard drive on to a post.

But Leeds still held the upper hand and might have wrapped up victory in the 56th minute had Lee Bowyer's right-wing cross been met by Alan Smith in the penalty area. Instead, the ball bounced off a post allowing the home side to clear.

After 72 minutes, Bowyer's right-wing cross found Dominic Matteo's head, but the effort was held by keeper Mart Poom.

It was the signal for Smith to stage his substitution masterstroke and Derby were soon on level terms thanks to Kinkladze's sorcery.