Jermaine Beckford scored twice, including a late header two minutes from time, as Leeds beat 10-man Exeter.
Beckford had missed two good chances before he coolly opened the scoring when left-back Ben Parker set him up for a low shot into the bottom corner.
Beckford headed against the bar, before former Leeds trainee Barry Corr saw red for elbowing new signing Michael Doyle.
But Alex Russell fired Exeter level, only for Robert Snodgrass and Jason Crowe to set up Beckford's late winner.
Leeds manager Simon Grayson told BBC Radio Leeds:
"It's very important to start the season in a positive manner. There has been some strange results today. It's all about winning the game on the opening day.
"I thought we started really brightly and could have put the game to bed within 30 minutes.
"Overall it was a half-decent performance - I feel there is more to come from us in certain areas of the pitch."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 8 August 2009
League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Leeds United
2-1
Exeter
FT
(HT 1-0)
Beckford 13
Beckford 88
Russell 73
Leeds United
12 Higgs
02 Crowe
03 Kisnorbo
05 Marques
19 Parker (Hughes 28)
04 Doyle
14 Howson
16 Johnson (Robinson 74)
09 Beckford
10 Becchio (Showunmi 84 yellow card)
23 Snodgrass
Substitutes
01 Ankergren,
17 Michalik,
07 Prutton,
18 Robinson,
22 Hughes,
13 Grella,
21 Showunmi
Exeter
27 Jones
03 Duffy
05 Seaborne
06 Taylor
11 Golbourne yellow card
15 Edwards yellow card (McAllister 61)
04 Russell
07 Harley yellow card
14 Cozic (Sercombe 90+1)
12 Corr red card
16 Stewart (Norwood 70)
Substitutes
01 Marriott,
02 Tully,
29 Archibald-Henville,
22 Sercombe,
28 Burnell,
10 McAllister ,
31 Norwood
Ref: MillerAtt: 27,681
LEEDS UNITED
EXETER
Possession
Leeds United68%
Exeter32%
Attempts on target
Leeds United9
Exeter3
Attempts off target
Leeds United7
Exeter2
Corners
Leeds United7
Exeter3
Fouls
Leeds United7
Exeter14
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:30 The referee signals the end of the game.
90:00+4:15 Effort from 12 yards by Jermaine Beckford. Paul Jones makes a comfortable save.
89:29 Michael Doyle challenges James Norwood unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Alex Russell.
87:47 Assist by Jason Crowe.
87:47 GOAL - Jermaine Beckford:Leeds United 2 - 1 Exeter Jermaine Beckford finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Leeds 2-1 Exeter.
87:41 The ball is delivered by Jason Crowe,
87:01 The referee blows for offside against Alex Russell. Direct free kick taken by Shane Higgs.
85:46 Booking The referee shows Enoch Showunmi a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
84:38 Andy Robinson is penalised for a handball. Free kick taken by Paul Jones.
83:52 Unfair challenge on Enoch Showunmi by Matthew Taylor results in a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Andy Robinson, Daniel Seaborne manages to make a clearance.
82:54 Direct free kick taken by Paul Jones.
82:54 Substitution Enoch Showunmi comes on in place of Luciano Becchio.
82:54 Andy Robinson is caught offside.
82:25 Andy Robinson takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post.
79:48 Robert Snodgrass crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Paul Jones.
79:48 Booking Ryan Harley goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
79:34 Ryan Harley concedes a free kick for a foul on Robert Snodgrass.
77:50 Centre by Robert Snodgrass, save by Paul Jones.
74:28 Free kick taken by Jason Crowe.
74:28 Booking The referee shows Scott Golbourne a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
74:17 Scott Golbourne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Luciano Becchio.
73:22 Substitution Andy Robinson is brought on as a substitute for Bradley Johnson.
72:38 Assist by Ryan Harley.
72:38 GOAL - Alex Russell:Leeds United 1 - 1 Exeter Goal scored by Alex Russell from just outside the box to the top left corner of the goal. Leeds 1-1 Exeter.
71:33 Patrick Kisnorbo gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig McAllister. Alex Russell takes the free kick.
71:15 Jonathan Howson takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save made by Paul Jones.
69:25 Substitution James Norwood joins the action as a substitute, replacing Marcus Stewart.
69:04 The referee blows for offside. Patrick Kisnorbo takes the direct free kick.
68:30 Jason Crowe takes a shot. Save by Paul Jones.
67:26 Shot from outside the penalty box by Ryan Harley goes wide right of the goal.
66:35 Andy Hughes produces a cross, Matthew Taylor manages to make a clearance.
65:42 A cross is delivered by Bradley Johnson.
63:54 Robert Snodgrass delivers the ball, Close range header by Bradley Johnson goes wide of the left-hand post.
62:30 Bertrand Cozic gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Doyle. Jason Crowe takes the free kick.
61:42 Effort from inside the area by Jermaine Beckford misses to the left of the target.
60:08 Substitution Rob Edwards goes off and Craig McAllister comes on.
58:16 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ryan Harley.
58:16 Sent off Barry Corr is sent off by the referee for foul and abusive language.
57:26 Barry Corr challenges Patrick Kisnorbo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Shane Higgs takes the direct free kick.
56:00 Effort on goal by Jermaine Beckford from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
55:04 Jason Crowe delivers the ball, Daniel Seaborne manages to make a clearance.
54:53 Andy Hughes crosses the ball, Scott Golbourne manages to make a clearance.
52:24 A cross is delivered by Ryan Harley.
48:43 Matthew Taylor concedes a free kick for a foul on Jermaine Beckford. Robert Snodgrass crosses the ball in from the free kick, Bertrand Cozic manages to make a clearance.
45:45 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jermaine Beckford on Daniel Seaborne. Paul Jones restarts play with the free kick.
45:11 Rui Marques fouled by Barry Corr, the ref awards a free kick. Shane Higgs restarts play with the free kick.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:03 The first half comes to an end.
45:00+0:05 Corner from right by-line taken by Ryan Harley.
44:26 Corner taken by Ryan Harley played to the near post, Shot by Barry Corr. Patrick Kisnorbo gets a block in.
43:26 The ball is sent over by Ryan Harley.
41:37 Jason Crowe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marcus Stewart. Strike on goal comes in from Ryan Harley from the free kick, Michael Doyle gets a block in.
39:19 The ball is sent over by Robert Snodgrass, Bradley Johnson has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.
39:19 Booking Rob Edwards receives a caution.
38:48 Rob Edwards gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Robert Snodgrass.
38:06 The ball is delivered by Robert Snodgrass, Foul by Jason Crowe on Marcus Stewart, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Paul Jones.
Correction - 36:05 Daniel Seaborne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Luciano Becchio. Robert Snodgrass crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Daniel Seaborne.
36:05 Luciano Becchio fouled by Daniel Seaborne, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Robert Snodgrass from right wing.
35:10 Bertrand Cozic challenges Jason Crowe unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Snodgrass takes the direct free kick.
32:21 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Robert Snodgrass.
31:31 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Robert Snodgrass from the left by-line.
30:29 Inswinging corner taken by Robert Snodgrass from the right by-line, clearance by Matthew Taylor.
29:22 Jermaine Beckford crosses the ball.
29:14 Jason Crowe sends in a cross, clearance by Matthew Taylor.
25:12 Shane Higgs restarts play with the free kick.
25:12 Substitution Andy Hughes on for Ben Parker.
25:12 The assistant referee signals for offside against Barry Corr.
24:27 The ball is delivered by Jason Crowe, Jermaine Beckford takes a shot. Headed effort from deep inside the area by Michael Doyle misses to the right of the target.
23:31 The ball is delivered by Barry Corr, Ben Parker makes a clearance.
21:58 Shot by Barry Corr from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.
16:19 Jermaine Beckford challenges Rob Edwards unfairly and gives away a free kick. Daniel Seaborne takes the direct free kick.
15:55 Bradley Johnson delivers the ball, save by Paul Jones.
14:55 Barry Corr gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonathan Howson. Patrick Kisnorbo takes the direct free kick.
13:51 The ball is delivered by Marcus Stewart.
12:32 Ben Parker provided the assist for the goal.
12:32 GOAL - Jermaine Beckford:Leeds United 1 - 0 Exeter Jermaine Beckford finds the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Leeds 1-0 Exeter.
10:44 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Robert Snodgrass from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Rob Edwards.
10:30 Jermaine Beckford has an effort at goal. Matthew Taylor gets a block in.
9:45 Jermaine Beckford takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Paul Jones makes a brilliant save.
8:48 Foul by Barry Corr on Patrick Kisnorbo, free kick awarded. Shane Higgs restarts play with the free kick.
7:25 Scott Golbourne fouled by Robert Snodgrass, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Jones takes the free kick.
4:49 The assistant referee signals for offside against Barry Corr. Shane Higgs restarts play with the free kick.
3:42 Jermaine Beckford takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Paul Jones makes a comfortable save.
3:27 Effort from 20 yards by Jonathan Howson.
3:02 Corner taken by Robert Snodgrass from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Rob Edwards.
2:44 Centre by Robert Snodgrass, Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Save made by Paul Jones.
2:24 Unfair challenge on Jason Crowe by Barry Corr results in a free kick. Robert Snodgrass takes the free kick.
1:45 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Robert Snodgrass from the left by-line to the near post, Ryan Harley makes a clearance.
1:31 The ball is delivered by Jonathan Howson, clearance by Richard Duffy.
0:06 Luciano Becchio fouled by Rob Edwards, the ref awards a free kick. Robert Snodgrass delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Rob Edwards makes a clearance.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
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