Henry Slade misses a last-gasp penalty as 14-man Toulouse edge Exeter Chiefs in a 14-try Champions Cup classic.
Toulouse denied Exeter Chiefs a famous victory in France on Sunday, fighting back to win a frenetic pool game despite playing with 14 men following a first-half red card, according to information published by BBC.
The dramatic Investec Champions Cup contest saw the lead change hands multiple times before Henry Slade missed a penalty from about 40 metres out with the clock in the red, leaving the visitors just short.
Zack Wimbush scored a brilliant hat-trick of tries for the 2020 champions, but the French powerhouse ultimately secured the victory during a classic encounter refereed by Hollie Davidson.
Wimbush hat-trick stuns Toulouse early on
Wimbush opened the scoring in the second minute to stun the home crowd in France. The winger started in place of the injured England international Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and delivered a stellar performance.
Toulouse replied quickly through Italy star Ange Capuozzo and a penalty try. That incident resulted in Exeter full-back Sam Harris being sent to the sin-bin during a chaotic opening period.
Red card drama in a frantic first half
The match turned dramatically in the 16th minute when Toulouse prop Rodrigue Neti received a red card for making shoulder-to-head contact in a tackle on Ross Vintcent.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the hosts stayed competitive in a first half that ended 26-24 in Exeter's favour and featured a staggering eight tries, with four scored by each side.
Exeter capitalise before hosts fight back
After the interval, Will Butt capitalised when Antoine Dupont saw his clearing kick charged down, extending the advantage for the English visitors to nine points.
However, Toulouse responded brilliantly through a double from Matias Remue, a try by Teddy Thomas, and another score by Romain Ntamack to snatch the lead back.
Slade misses final chance to draw
Exeter pushed hard for a winning score in the closing stages and were awarded a late penalty within scoring range, opting to kick for the posts to salvage a draw.
Centre Henry Slade pulled his pressure kick just wide of the target, meaning the West Country side had to settle for a single losing bonus point in the pool match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who missed the last-gasp penalty for Exeter Chiefs against Toulouse?
Exeter centre Henry Slade missed a penalty from about 40 metres out with the clock in the red, which would have secured a draw against Toulouse in the Investec Champions Cup.
Why was Rodrigue Neti sent off during the match?
Toulouse prop Rodrigue Neti received a red card in the 16th minute for making dangerous shoulder-to-head contact in a tackle on Exeter player Ross Vintcent.
How many tries did Zack Wimbush score for Exeter?
Exeter winger Zack Wimbush scored an impressive hat-trick of tries, starting in place of the injured Immanuel Feyi-Waboso as the 2020 champions fell just short in France.
Who refereed the Champions Cup match between Toulouse and Exeter?
Scottish official Hollie Davidson refereed the frenetic pool game, assisted by assistant referees Rob McDowell and Finlay Brown, with Dave Sutherland acting as TMO.
