Tom Hateley gave Motherwell hope of reaching the Europa League despite suffering a 2-1 loss to Odense.
Well hanging on after 10-men rally with late goal
An injury-time strike from Tom Hateley gave Motherwell hope of reaching the Europa League group stages despite suffering a 2-1 loss to Odense.
Well looked to be all but out after falling two goals behind at their Danish opponents as Chris Sorensen's first-half opener and Peter Utaka's 79th minute strike saw the hosts go 2-0 up.
And any hopes of European football for Craig Brown's side appeared in tatters when Steve Jennings was sent off late on for picking up his second yellow card.
But Hateley curled home a stunning 25-yard free-kick in stoppage-time to reduce the deficit and earn his team a vital away goal.
Attacking display
The goal was the least Motherwell deserved for an attacking display which saw them enjoy as much territory and possession as their hosts.
Brown played the whole second half with three up front despite initially changing his formation to a 4-4-2 with Chris Humphrey on the left wing and John Sutton playing just off Jamie Murphy.
Odense started with former Manchester United pair Roy Carroll and Eric Djemba-Djemba.
Murphy was handed a good chance to test Carroll after 30 seconds when he pounced on a loose pass but the Scotland Under-21 international shot wide from 18 yards.
Odense soon created a better chance when left-back Sorensen's cross found Atle Roar Haland six yards out but the centre-back headed over.
Mark Reynolds was harshly booked for a high challenge on Caca but Motherwell soon posed problems going forward.
Humphrey came inside and played a reverse pass in front of Murphy, whose shot was diverted wide. The English winger crossed moments later when he might have been better shooting.
Hateley and Sutton both shot over from long range but the hosts looked capable of stretching Motherwell when they moved the ball around quickly in the final third and Darren Randolph made a good block midway through the half.
The former Charlton goalkeeper beat away Johan Absalonsen's shot after the Denmark midfielder ran on to Utaka's threaded pass.
Randolph was tested again by Absalonsen soon after before Hateley came closer with a 20-yard free-kick.
But Motherwell's promising start was undone in the 31st minute.
Hungarian referee Zsolt Szabo waved play on after Caca fell under Stevie Hammell's challenge but changed his mind after his assistant flagged.
Sorensen swung the free-kick from 30 yards out on the right towards the edge of the six-yard box but the ball went straight into the far corner.
Motherwell put their hosts under some pressure before the break but their delivery let them down and Szabo waved away penalty appeals when Sutton's header appeared to hit Anders Moller Christensen on the arm.
Caught
The hosts were inches away from a second when Rurik Gislason fired just beyond Randolph's far post after beating Lasley and Jennings, who was soon booked for leading with an elbow.
Motherwell continued to press and Humphrey cut inside Sorensen following Hammell's diagonal ball but his left-foot shot lacked power.
Murphy claimed strongly for a penalty after being nudged off balance by Espen Ruud while trying to volley from 16 yards.
Motherwell were almost caught on the break as Gislason headed wide and they were exposed when Utaka beat Stephen Craigan for pace to reach a forward pass and rounded Randolph before lashing past three Motherwell players into the roof of the net.
And with two minutes left, Jennings picked up his second caution to reduce his side to 10 men.
But the 10 men stunned their hosts deep in injury-time when Hateley curled a glorious 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.
Hateley's first effort, after Blackman had been hauled down by Hans Henrik Andreasen, had gone straight into Carroll's hands.
But the midfielder was allowed to take another after the referee blew his whistle in the act of shooting amid some jostling in the box, and the Englishman took full advantage with virtually the last kick of the ball.
