LEEDS United made a bizarre entry into UEFA Champions League football with their 2-1 victory over TSV 1860 Munich soured by the dismissal of two players.

Midfielders Olivier Dacourt and Eirik Bakke were both ordered off by referee Costas Kapitanis which left home fans seething at Elland Road.

The card-happy Cypriot official had already sent off Munich's Ned Zelic in the first half and Leeds seemed to be cruising at 2-0 against ten men as the game entered the last 15 minutes.

But the match turned on it's head when United's £7.2 million record signing Dacourt collected a second yellow card when Kapitanis ruled he had taken a dive.

Nine minutes later, Bakke, already booked, collected another caution for an innocuous handball. Both midfielders will miss the return leg in Germany. Coupled with the club's injury crisis Leeds may have only one recognised midfielder, Lee Bowyer, available for the game in the Olympic Stadium.

Leeds went into last night's match without seven of their senior squad through injury but just as it looked as though they would cling on to a

precious two goal lead Paul Agostino's header in the fourth minute of injury time gave Munich a valuable away goal which leaves the tie delicately

balanced.

Despite their injury troubles Leeds were able to field a strong starting eleven, but a glance at the bench revealed the depth of their injury crisis, untried teenagers Gareth Evans, Jamie McMaster and Tony Hackworth all named

as substitutes.

Munich, fourth in the Bundeslagia last season, looked solid and well organised, but showed little flair in a poor first half in which both sides

looked rusty.

It took Leeds a good half hour to get into their stride, but the

tight-marking Germans frustrated Leeds until Martin Stranzl failed to get enough power into a header back to goalkeeper Michael Hofmann and Alan Smith

nipped in to nod Leeds ahead.

One gift was quickly followed by another as Zelic clattered into Lucas Radebe and Ian Harte in quick succession and received a straight red card. All Leeds had to do was ensure they kept their man advantage and they should have been home and dry.

But with ten men, Munich showed better control in the second half and a string of free-kicks against Leeds led to unneccessary yellow cards leaving the eye-catching Dacourt and Bakke under pressure.

New striker Mark Viduka showed a neat touch for a big man up front but it was the every willing Smith who earned Leeds a second goal when he was tripped in the area by Harald Cerny and Harte sent Hofmann the wrong way with his 71st minute spot-kick.

After last season's European experience Leeds should have known to keep out of trouble and wrap the game up but they threw away their numerical advantage - and a goal.

After the double red cards, Munich sensed their chance and veteran German international Thomas Hassler drew a fine save from Nigel Martyn as the game

crept into injury time.

Just when it seemed Leeds had hung on Hassler's cross from the left was headed in by former Bristol City man Agostino to change the complexion of the tie.

Rarely can a Leeds victory have been greeted with so much dismay.

Leeds Utd 2, 1860 Munich 1

UEFA Champions League

Third qualifying round

Leeds Utd: Martyn, Kelly, Radebe, Duberry, Harte, Bakke, Dacourt, Bowyer, Bridges (Mills 80), Smith, Viduka. Subs (not used): Huckerby, Robinson, McMaster, Molenaar, G Evans, Hackworth. Sent off: Dacourt 75, Bakke 84. Bookings: Smith. Goals: Smith 40, Harte pen 71

1860 Munich: Hofmann, Cerny, Kurz, Stranzl (Winkler 83), Zelic, Votava, Hassler, Mykland, Bierofka (Passlack HT), Max, Agostino. Subs (not used): Beierle, Borimirov, Reidl, Ehlers, Jentsch. Sent off: Zelic. Bookings: Votava, Kurz, Mykland. Goal: Agostino 90

Referee: Costas Kapitanis (Cyprus)

Attendance: 33,769