Przemyslaw Placheta scored a stoppage-time equaliser for Oxford United against Millwall
Oxford United's Przemyslaw Placheta scored a thrilling last-minute equaliser to deny Championship promotion contenders Millwall at a wet Kassam Stadium.
The visitors took the lead through Thierno Ballo, who made the most of an unexpected early opportunity to head home from a long throw to punish a moment of poor U's defending.
Oxford, desperate to pick up points to move away from the relegation zone, responded just before the break through Cameron Brannagan's superb curling effort from outside the box.
Jake Cooper, on his 400th Millwall appearance, found the ball at his feet following Tristan Crama's deflected shot before tucking it home, but the U's had the last laugh when Placheta found the corner of the net with virtually the last kick of the game.
U's boss Gary Rowett praised his former club before the game, describing them as "a beacon for smaller clubs in the Championship", but it did not take long for the visitors to get on the score sheet.
In a moment more reminiscent of non-league football, a long-throw was directed towards the U's box and it was allowed to bounce before Ballo took full advantage to head past the despairing Jamie Cumming.
Lions captain Cooper then had a fantastic chance to double the lead, but his header went just past the post from a corner kick.
Putting more pace on the ball, Oxford pushed for an equaliser but lacked the composure of their opponents with both Brian De Keersmaecker and Jack Currie firing wide.
But that persistence was eventually rewarded. With half-time beckoning, Stanley Mills cut back inside to feed Brannagan, who hit the ball first time, guiding it beyond Max Crocombe into the top left-hand corner.
Alex Neil's men started the second half the stronger and they were rewarded with Cooper's close-range effort before Placheta's deserved equaliser in stoppage time.
The result moves Oxford move up to eighteenth, with Millwall dropping to fourth.
Oxford United boss Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford:
"It was a nice way to end the game - we haven't had too many of those.
"I think it's the first time this season a sub has come on for us and scored a goal, which in some ways is a poor impact from the bench for us overall, but it was nice to get it in a game like this.
"It was a competitive game - you can see why Millwall are where they are because they can mix it up.
"We kept going - I'm pleased with how we finished the game and it would have been harsh to have lost."
Millwall boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio London:
"I don't think we deserved to lose any points - I thought we were the better team.
"We're still unbeaten away from home, it's another point.
"If we don't play well today and get a point, we'd probably go away quite satisfied. But because of the nature of the match and the fact we deserved to win, it feels like a defeat.
"I'm not thinking about the table but there's no getting away from that today. It's a sore one."
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