Port Vale goalkeeper Connor Ripley added to his growing reputation for penalty saves by stopping Fejiri Okenabirhie’s 90th-minute spot-kick to earn his side a 1-1 draw at Cambridge.
Okenabirhie had the chance to win the game for the U’s from 12 yards after Jack Lankester had been fouled in the box by Nathan Smith, but the striker saw his effort blocked by Ripley, who saved five of the six penalties he faced playing for Morecambe last season.
Vale boss Andy Crosby said: “He’s got a reputation for saving penalties, and it’s credit to the work that goes on with the analysts off the pitch, and to the decision Connor has made on it.
He continued: “Overall I think it’s a good point earned away from home. We had good control in the first half and created chances, but the over-riding emotion is that we weren’t clinical enough in either box.
“We had the chances to take the game away from Cambridge.”
The visitors could have hit the front after three minutes, but Ethan Chislett’s shot deflected wide off team-mate James Wilson when the former AFC Wimbledon midfielder looked certain to score.
Chislett was involved when his side took a 20th-minute lead, supplying a precise through ball for Ben Garrity, who buried his effort past Will Mannion.
Sullay Kaikai had a header tipped over by Ripley as Cambridge tried to respond, and in the second half Danny Andrew saw a low effort canon back off the post.
Manager Mark Bonner made a treble substitution in the 62nd minute, and was rewarded four minutes later when two of his replacements combined for the equaliser, with John-Kymani Gordon supplying the cross for Okenabirhie to head in his fourth league goal of the season.
A poor backpass by Liam Bennett presented Gavin Massey with a chance to put Vale back in front soon afterwards, but Mannion stood up well to save his shot.
Then came the late drama, with Ripley making himself the hero.
Cambridge’s Bonner said: “It’s frustrating because it feels like we’ve lost a chance to win the game, but overall I think the point is a fair one. They’ve had chances, but I love the way we played in the second half and the opportunities we created.
“We have to respect and take the point because we didn’t get enough draws last season.”
On Okenabirhie’s penalty, Bonner added: “He’s a brilliant penalty taker, who has been really reliable this season and scored a couple already. I’m sure he’ll take the next one when he’s on the pitch and score it, because it’s a real strength of his. It was a whisker away from a brilliant turnaround but it wasn’t to be.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
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