Motherwell manager Craig Brown admitted he thought his team had done enough to secure a stunning Europa League away win against Aalesund before an injury-time penalty denied them.
The Steelmen were heading for a first-leg lead after Jamie Murphy netted his record-breaking sixth European goal for the club three minutes into the second half.
Brown's meticulous research into the side sitting fourth in the Norwegian top flight suggested they would struggle to score a late goal.
But, with the Lanarkshire side looking set for probably their greatest result in European competition, right-back Steven Saunders conceded a penalty with a foul on Jamaica winger Demar Phillips.
Alexander Mathisen sent Darren Randolph the wrong way to deliver a cruel and unexpected blow to the visitors and earn his team a 1-1 draw.
"I thought they weren't going to manage to score," the former Scotland manager said.
"They didn't look like scoring in the last 20 minutes. They don't usually score in the last 20 minutes, I don't know why, whether it's through fitness or whatever.
"They players knew that if they got to the hour mark and they hadn't scored then we had a solid base to build on.
"It looked like they would only score from a set-piece and they got a penalty, which was very softly-conceded."
Despite the crushing late setback, Motherwell have given themselves every chance of progressing to a potentially money-spinning tie in the play-off round.
Aalesund have already played 18 league games while Well had only played two competitive fixtures, against Iceland's Breidablik in the previous round, while being unable to add any experienced outfield players to their squad this summer.
"I think it's a solid result," said Brown, whose team had to play on an artificial surface. "We're not getting carried away. It's only half-time so we are not going to get complacent.
"We played very, very assured football and defended competently."
Brown was full of praise for Scotland Under-21 international Murphy, who broke Stevie Kirk's record when he turned and fired home following Chris Humphrey's cutback.
"It was a terrific goal he scored tonight," the Motherwell boss said.
"He deserves it because he's a conscientious boy. He works hard and you never hear him boasting. He puts a shift in for the team."
Brown's meticulous research into the side sitting fourth in the Norwegian top flight suggested they would struggle to score a late goal.
But, with the Lanarkshire side looking set for probably their greatest result in European competition, right-back Steven Saunders conceded a penalty with a foul on Jamaica winger Demar Phillips.
Alexander Mathisen sent Darren Randolph the wrong way to deliver a cruel and unexpected blow to the visitors and earn his team a 1-1 draw.
"I thought they weren't going to manage to score," the former Scotland manager said.
"They didn't look like scoring in the last 20 minutes. They don't usually score in the last 20 minutes, I don't know why, whether it's through fitness or whatever.
"They players knew that if they got to the hour mark and they hadn't scored then we had a solid base to build on.
"It looked like they would only score from a set-piece and they got a penalty, which was very softly-conceded."
Despite the crushing late setback, Motherwell have given themselves every chance of progressing to a potentially money-spinning tie in the play-off round.
Aalesund have already played 18 league games while Well had only played two competitive fixtures, against Iceland's Breidablik in the previous round, while being unable to add any experienced outfield players to their squad this summer.
"I think it's a solid result," said Brown, whose team had to play on an artificial surface. "We're not getting carried away. It's only half-time so we are not going to get complacent.
"We played very, very assured football and defended competently."
Brown was full of praise for Scotland Under-21 international Murphy, who broke Stevie Kirk's record when he turned and fired home following Chris Humphrey's cutback.
"It was a terrific goal he scored tonight," the Motherwell boss said.
"He deserves it because he's a conscientious boy. He works hard and you never hear him boasting. He puts a shift in for the team."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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