Nottingham Forest were given a "free" goal at the beginning of their replayed Carling Cup tie with Leicester, but it was the Foxes celebrating after two strikes in the final two minutes sent them through to the third round.
It had started so well for Forest after Leicester allowed keeper Paul Smith to walk through and kick the ball into an open net after 23 seconds to compensate for the 1-0 lead they lost when last month`s initial tie was abandoned at half-time because Clive Clarke collapsed with heart failure.
Alan Sheehan promptly cancelled out that lead on the half-hour mark, but for 24 minutes after Nathan Tyson restored the lead on 64 minutes the prize trip to face Aston Villa was seemingly Forest`s.
Everything then changed.
First, substitute Richard Stearman netted the leveller with two minutes remaining and then, with extra time seconds away, Stephen Clemence hit the stoppage-time winner.
It was a dramatic end to a game which never lacked an attacking edge from either side.
The hosts, buoyed by Smith's goal on 23 seconds, nearly got a second on 13 minutes when Kris Commons' goal-bound drive was tipped over by Marton Fulop, while Neil Lennon came close only to see his effort blocked by Patrick Kisnorbo.
Leicester, meanwhile, looked strong on the counter-attack and Mark De Vries, Bruno N'Gotty and Dudley Campbell all came close before Sheehan finally levelled matters in controversial circumstances.
Chris Cohen, in the side having emerged unscathed from his debut against Port Vale at the weekend, was harshly adjudged to have fouled Campbell 20 yards from goal.
The decision was not widely approved of in the stands, but there was little doubt about the class of Sheehan's free-kick, the ball swerving into the bottom corner.
The rest of the half subsequently lacked action, but excitement was promptly restored after the break when Campbell`s 47th-minute drive was kept out by the feet of Smith, while Tyson hinted at his threat with a 25-yard effort moments later.
It was a warning for Leicester, but they did not heed it and in the 63rd minute they were made to pay the price as Tyson, collecting a pass from deep-lying Commons, was allowed to saunter through and finish neatly from 12 yards.
The Foxes looked to immediately hit back, Matt Fryatt driving a shot straight at Smith and Iain Hume heading over, but by the time Junior Agogo had his 30-yard piledriver saved by Fulop the spoils were seemingly only heading one way.
But having watched Clemence graze the bar 12 minutes from time, Leicester grew in belief and threw men forward in search of a late leveller.
It came when Stearman collected Fryatt`s pass 12 yards from goal and buried it deep into the net, but better was to come.
With virtually the last kick of the game, Clemence gathered the ball 20 yards from goal and found the bottom corner to complete a remarkable late turnaround.
Alan Sheehan promptly cancelled out that lead on the half-hour mark, but for 24 minutes after Nathan Tyson restored the lead on 64 minutes the prize trip to face Aston Villa was seemingly Forest`s.
Everything then changed.
First, substitute Richard Stearman netted the leveller with two minutes remaining and then, with extra time seconds away, Stephen Clemence hit the stoppage-time winner.
It was a dramatic end to a game which never lacked an attacking edge from either side.
The hosts, buoyed by Smith's goal on 23 seconds, nearly got a second on 13 minutes when Kris Commons' goal-bound drive was tipped over by Marton Fulop, while Neil Lennon came close only to see his effort blocked by Patrick Kisnorbo.
Leicester, meanwhile, looked strong on the counter-attack and Mark De Vries, Bruno N'Gotty and Dudley Campbell all came close before Sheehan finally levelled matters in controversial circumstances.
Chris Cohen, in the side having emerged unscathed from his debut against Port Vale at the weekend, was harshly adjudged to have fouled Campbell 20 yards from goal.
The decision was not widely approved of in the stands, but there was little doubt about the class of Sheehan's free-kick, the ball swerving into the bottom corner.
The rest of the half subsequently lacked action, but excitement was promptly restored after the break when Campbell`s 47th-minute drive was kept out by the feet of Smith, while Tyson hinted at his threat with a 25-yard effort moments later.
It was a warning for Leicester, but they did not heed it and in the 63rd minute they were made to pay the price as Tyson, collecting a pass from deep-lying Commons, was allowed to saunter through and finish neatly from 12 yards.
The Foxes looked to immediately hit back, Matt Fryatt driving a shot straight at Smith and Iain Hume heading over, but by the time Junior Agogo had his 30-yard piledriver saved by Fulop the spoils were seemingly only heading one way.
But having watched Clemence graze the bar 12 minutes from time, Leicester grew in belief and threw men forward in search of a late leveller.
It came when Stearman collected Fryatt`s pass 12 yards from goal and buried it deep into the net, but better was to come.
With virtually the last kick of the game, Clemence gathered the ball 20 yards from goal and found the bottom corner to complete a remarkable late turnaround.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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