Gassan Ahadme scored two late goals to earn new Cambridge head coach Neil Harris a point in his first game in charge after a dramatic 2-2 draw against Charlton at The Valley.
There was a distinct lack of drama in a drab opening 45 minutes in which neither side managed to create a chance of note.
But Charlton looked to be heading for maximum points as they went 2-0 ahead before the hour mark.
First substitute Daniel Kanu’s cross deflected off Jubril Okedina for Alfie May to strike his 19th goal of the campaign, 15 of those in League One.
Wolves loanee Chem Campbell headed past U’s keeper Jack Stevens from Corey Blackett-Taylor’s cross.
Cambridge, on a run of three straight league losses, were given hope of a comeback when Ahadme was left unmarked to head home from a corner in the 87th minute.
And the Ipswich loanee then kept his cool to convert from the penalty spot in the sixth minute of added time after referee Thomas Kirk ruled that Tayo Edun’s foul on Jack Lankester was inside the box.