Mika Biereth netted an injury-time equaliser as Motherwell claimed a share of the spoils in a 1-1 cinch Premiership draw against St Johnstone at Fir Park.
Biereth powered home a header in the final seconds to level proceedings, though Well boss Stuart Kettlewell remained under pressure, having seen his side extend their winless run to 13 matches.
A goalkeeping error from Liam Kelly led to Bevis Mugabi turning Graham Carey’s free-kick into his own net early in the second half and it looked like the hosts were heading for another dismal afternoon until they came up with a late response.
Saints have slipped into the relegation play-off position, trailing Motherwell on goal difference having played one game fewer.
Kettlewell made three changes in an effort to end his side’s search for a first victory since September. Georgie Gent made his first start for the club while Davor Zdravkovski and Jon Obika were both handed starting roles.
Craig Levein was without Max Kucheriavyi – who sustained a concussion during Saints’ 1-0 victory over St Mirren in midweek – and he was replaced by Chris Kane.
There was little to excite supporters of either side during an error-strewn opening 20 minutes.
The hosts looked to have a case for a foul when Brodie Spencer hit the deck following a challenge just inside his own penalty area, but when the referee waved play on, Kelly parried Anthony Gallacher’s shot before grasping an effort from Carey.
Gent forced a good stop from Dimitar Mitov after 27 minutes with a low drive that took a deflection off Matt Smith – the first time the St Johnstone goalkeeper had been called into action.
Having almost broken the deadlock, Motherwell were clearly lifted and began to pose much more of an attacking threat.
Obika had a weak shot gathered comfortably then a neat passing move concluded with Blair Spittal firing a powerful effort at Mitov that the Bulgarian turned away.
Callum Slattery saw his long-range drive saved shortly after half-time, though the home side would find themselves behind after 53 minutes.
It was a disaster for Kelly who got nowhere near to collecting Smith’s curling free-kick and Mugabi could only divert the ball into his own goal.
The mood had noticeably shifted inside Fir Park and the Steelmen almost found themselves two down when Diallang Jaiyesimi released Kane, who blasted against the legs of Kelly with the goal at his mercy.
Kettlewell introduced Oli Shaw in place of Obika with 20 minutes left on the clock, however, it was the visitors who continued to look the more likely.
After Zdravkovski had hacked down Carey, the Saints man dusted himself off to bend the resulting free-kick beyond the helpless Well goalkeeper but against the crossbar.
Spencer blazed an effort high and wide as Motherwell desperately searched for a way back into an encounter that was slipping away from them at pace.
In bringing on Theo Bair and Conor Wilkinson for Spencer and Zdravkovski they would have four strikers on the field for the final 10 minutes.
The changes almost paid off instantly as Bair got in behind the Saints defence before heading into the arms of Mitov, while Beireth then looped a header that crept wide of the target with the aid of a deflection.
It appeared that it was almost time up for Kettlewell, but his side would strike deep into added time as Beireth bulleted the ball high into the net after connecting with Bair’s pin-point cross.
Al-Ahli 1-2 Al-Hilal: Mitrovic double keeps Saudi champions perfect
Aleksandar Mitrovic proved to be the difference once again for Al-Hilal as the reigning Saudi Pro League champions beat Al-Ahli 2-1 on Saturday.
Al-Ahil went in front with 12 minutes played when Gabri Veiga was sent through on goal by Franck Kessie, with the Spaniard rounding Yassine Bounou to open the scoring at King Abdullah Sports City.
The hosts went close to doubling their advantage soon after, with Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney going close, before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic saw his effort cleared off the line at the other end.
But parity was restored early in the second half through Al-Hilal's master marksman, as Mitrovic nodded home a trademark header from Renan Lodi's delivery.
Al-Ahil were then awarded a penalty when Rayan Hamed fouled Malcom inside the box, only for Mitrovic to see his effort saved by Abdulrahman Al Sanbi.
However, the Serbian was given the chance to redeem himself after the VAR deemed encroachment had taken place, and he made no mistake at the second time of asking to net his 14th goal of the season in all competitions.
Data Debrief: Mitrovic the main man
Mitrovic has been in fine form since his move to Saudi Arabia, with his latest double taking his tally to 54 goals in as many appearances for Al-Hilal.
This time out, he contributed 1.16 expected goals (xG) tally to the visitors' 2.24 total, while also recording the most touches in the opposition box (six).
Malcom also impressed for Al-Hilal, creating more chances (three) than anyone on the pitch, with his 14 passes into the final third a total only bettered by Ruben Neves (18) and Salem Al Dawsari (15) among his team-mates.
Al-Nassr 3-0 Al-Orubah: Mane double helps hosts close in on leaders
Sadio Mane scored a goal in either half, helping Al-Nassr cruise to a 3-0 win over Al-Orubah and close in on the top two in the Saudi Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo had given the hosts the lead from the spot, setting them on their way to a dominant victory.
After a slow start, Jean Seri was penalised for a handball, and Ronaldo made no mistake from the spot. After a stuttering run-up, he coolly slotted his strike into the bottom-left corner.
Mane got his first on the stroke of half-time, latching onto Ronaldo's pull-back before firing his low shot into the far side of the net.
He could have had a hat-trick, having also hit the woodwork and squandered a first-time shot by slicing it wide, but he did get his second in the 71st minute, guiding Nawaf Bu Washi's cross past Gaetan Coucke.
Cristian Tello came closest to a consolation for the visitors, smashing a long-range effort off the crossbar.
Data Debrief: Mane's time to shine
Mane, so far this season, has been providing the spark as a playmaker after registering five assists in Al-Nassr's first five games in the Saudi Pro League.
Today, however, he regained his scoring touch, getting his first two goals of the campaign.
He had the most shots (five), and shots on target (three), as he accumulated 0.97 expected goals (xG), while his seven touches in the box was the most of any player on the field.
Napoli 3-1 Como: Lukaku and McTominay on target to extend hosts' Serie A lead
Romelu Lukaku continued his fine start to life at Napoli as the Belgian notched a goal and two assists in his side's 3-1 win over Como on Friday.
The hosts found themselves ahead with just 26 seconds on the clock when Scott McTominay was picked out by Lukaku, with the Scotland international firing home his first goal for Gli Azzurri off the post.
But Como would draw themselves level two minutes before the break when Gabriel Strefezza's strike from distance rifled into the bottom corner.
However, Antonio Conte's side needed just eight minutes after the interval to restore their advantage when Sergi Roberto brought down Mathias Olivera in the box, with Lukaku stepping up from 12 yards to net his fourth Serie A goal of the season.
Napoli continued to push for a third goal to secure the victory, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia going closest but saw his effort saved by Emil Audero.
But the points were sealed in the 86th minute when Lukaku turned provider once again, holding off his marker before slipping through substitute David Neres who slotted home with a fine finish to extend Napoli's lead at the top of the standings to four points.
Data Debrief: Lukaku continues Conte love story
Lukaku has been a player reborn under Conte's stewardship. The Belgian is the player who has been involved in the most goals in his first five appearances for Napoli in Serie A since the Italian top-flight returned to 20 teams (since 2004/05) with three goals and four assists.
He has also managed to better his assist tally for the whole of last season, managing just three in 32 appearances for Roma last term.
McTominay's goal after 26 seconds is the third-fastest scored by Napoli since the start of a Serie A match in the three points for a win era, after Hirving Lozano's goal against Hellas Verona in 2021 (nine seconds) and Ezequiel Lavezzi's goal against Genoa in 2008 (25 seconds).
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