Exeter Chiefs progressed to the Champions Cup quarter-finals following a 33-33 extra-time draw with Montpellier at Sandy Park on Sunday.
Paolo Garbisi slotted a 45-metre penalty with 80 minutes up on the clock to send the game into extra time with the scores level 26-all.
Curtis Langdon, Vincent Rattez and Lenni Nouchi all scored for Montpellier in the opening 80 minutes, with Garbisi adding a conversion and three penalties.
Exeter prop Scott Sio scored the hosts’ first try with Sam Simmonds, Tom Wyatt and Josh Iosefa-Scott crossing the whitewash, Joe Simmonds adding three conversions.
In extra-time, Louis Carbonel put Montpellier ahead, but Jack Yeandle’s late score levelled matters once again, with the Chiefs progressing in the Champions Cup having scored five tries to Montpellier’s four.
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The visitors suffered an injury blow inside three minutes when hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa limped off and was replaced by Langdon, who immediately made his presence felt.
Exeter could not clear from inside their 22, and Montpellier created enough room for Langdon to touch down just 50 seconds after joining the action, with Garbisi landing a wide-angled conversion.
The Chiefs were at sixes and sevens, with Montpellier punishing them again through an eighth-minute try for Rattez that was set up initially by Stooke’s powerful charge into the Exeter 22.
It was a lightning start by the French champions, but Exeter admirably retained their composure and established a lengthy spell of territorial dominance inside Montpellier’s half.
And that pressure was rewarded through a 23rd-minute score for Sio that Simmonds converted, bringing Exeter back into the contest at 12-7 adrift.
The revival continued five minutes before half-time after referee Andrew Brace yellow-carded Montpellier flanker Masivesi Dakuwaqa for a technical infringement.
Exeter did not require a second invitation to make their temporary one-man advantage count as Sam Simmonds crashed over from close range and his brother’s conversion put Chiefs ahead for the first time.
But Garbisi made the final contribution of a gripping first-half when he kicked a 20-metre penalty to hand his side a 15-14 interval advantage after Exeter’s England centre Henry Slade was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.
Montpellier thought they had extended their lead early in the second period, but Mercer saw a try ruled out for midfield obstruction during build-up play.
Zach Mercer a bit unlucky here?#HeinekenChampionsCup #EXEvMHR pic.twitter.com/IOf9DrnMD9
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) April 2, 2023
And it proved to be Mercer’s final legal contribution to the game as he was sent off just two minutes later following a high challenge on Exeter and Wales back-row forward Christ Tshiunza.
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Garbisi kicked his second penalty midway through the third quarter, but Exeter regained the initiative, and Simmonds’ powerful break ended with Wyatt finishing brilliantly as Chiefs moved back in front.
Exeter continued to enjoy supremacy after Mercer’s exit, and Iosefa-Scott scored their fourth try 15 minutes from time that seemingly sealed Montpellier’s fate, with visiting centre Thomas Darmon seeing a 73rd-minute touchdown disallowed before Nouchi’s effort and last-gasp Garbisi strike took it to extra-time and more guaranteed drama.