Mali midfielder Yves Bissouma (right) was at the heart of both penalty decisions
The Gambia and Mali both moved to the brink of the last 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations as they played out a 1-1 draw in Limbe, Cameroon.
Both goals in the Group F encounter came from late penalties awarded via video assistant referee reviews.
Ibrahima Kone had put Mali ahead with 11 minutes left after Ebou Adams pushed over Yves Bissouma in the box.
But Musa Barrow grabbed a point for the debutants in the final minute after Bissouma was penalised for handball.
The Gambia and Mali are both on four points after two games, which could prove enough to qualify for the knock-out stages as one of four best third-placed teams.
The Gambia, the lowest ranked team in the competition, beat Mauritania 1-0 in their first-ever Nations Cup game and a place in the last 16 would be a fine achievement for Tom Saintfiet's Scorpions.
- Africa Cup of Nations fixturesAfrica Cup of Nations group tables
Late drama provided by VAR
Mali controlled much of the first half but The Gambia came closest to breaking the deadlock, as Barrow rattled the crossbar with a powerful free-kick from over 30 yards out and Ablie Jallow curled onto the right-hand upright with Mali keeper Ibrahim Mounkoro beaten.
In hot and humid conditions, Scorpions keeper Modou Jobe bravely denied Adama Noss Traore and tipped over Amadou Haidara's curling free-kick in the second half, while Bissouma sent a shot narrowly over.
And, after Adams was found to have stopped Bissouma from latching on to Adama Malouda Traore's cut-back, Kone scored his second goal of the tournament - having also netted Mali's winner against Tunisia from the spot.
Mali celebrated their opener with their fans in the Limbe Stadium, but could not hold on to their lead
The Sarpsborg striker now has 10 goals in eight internationals for the Eagles, who have reached Africa's play-offs for the 2022 World Cup.
But the intervention from VAR did not end there as Ebrima Colley's centre hit Bissouma's arm at close range and referee Samir Guezzaz pointed to the spot once more after checking his monitor.
Bologna forward Barrow side-footed into the right-hand side of the net to spark celebrations for The Gambia, whose first ever appearance at a major tournament is proving to be memorable.
The Scorpions face Tunisia in their final Group F game on Thursday, with Mali taking on Mauritania (both 19:00 GMT).
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsGambia
Formation 4-5-1
1Jobe14Sonko-Sundberg12Gomez5Colley26Touray3Jallow28Adams6Marreh2Bobb10Barrow9Ceesay
- 1Jobe14Sonko-SundbergSubstituted forJankoat 73'minutes12Gomez5Colley26Touray3JallowSubstituted forBadamosiat 83'minutesBooked at 90mins28AdamsSubstituted forBarrowat 83'minutes6MarrehBooked at 24mins2Bobb10Barrow9CeesaySubstituted forColleyat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Barrow13Jagne16Jallow-Mbye17Jobe19Colley20Trawally21Janko22Sibi23Badamosi24Darboe25Sanneh27Njie
Mali
Formation 4-3-3
1Mounkoro2Traoré17Sacko5Kouyaté6Haïdara11Coulibaly8Samassékou20Bissouma14Malouda Traoré18Koné19Djenepo
- 1Mounkoro2Traoré17Sacko5Kouyaté6HaïdaraBooked at 43mins11CoulibalyBooked at 20minsSubstituted forHaïdaraat 45'minutes8SamassékouSubstituted forTraoréat 45'minutes20Bissouma14Malouda Traoré18Koné19DjenepoBooked at 40minsSubstituted forDoumbiaat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Traoré4Haïdara7Doumbia10Coulibaly12Sissako13Coulibaly16Diarra21Traoré22Diawara23Dieng25Sinayoko26Camara
Referee:Samir GuezzazMatch StatsHome TeamGambiaAway TeamMaliPossessionHome32%Away68%ShotsHome6Away19Shots on TargetHome1Away5CornersHome0Away9FoulsHome11Away20Live TextPost update
Match ends, Gambia 1, Mali 1.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Gambia 1, Mali 1.
90'+5'Post update
Corner, Mali. Conceded by Yusupha Bobb.
90'+4'Post update
Corner, Mali. Conceded by Sulayman Marreh.
90'+4'Booking
Muhammed Badamosi (Gambia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+4'Post update
Hamari Traoré (Mali) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Muhammed Badamosi (Gambia).
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Ibrahima Koné (Mali).
90'+3'Post update
Sulayman Marreh (Gambia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'Post update
Goal! Gambia 1, Mali 1. Musa Barrow (Gambia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
88'Post update
VAR Decision: Penalty Gambia.
87'Post update
Penalty conceded by Yves Bissouma (Mali) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
86'Post update
Foul by Falaye Sacko (Mali).
86'Post update
Muhammed Badamosi (Gambia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
86'Post update
Attempt saved. Moussa Doumbia (Mali) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Yves Bissouma.
85'Post update
Foul by Adama Noss Traoré (Mali).
85'Post update
Omar Colley (Gambia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'Post update
Foul by Ibrahima Koné (Mali).
84'Post update
Omar Colley (Gambia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'Post update
Foul by Moussa Doumbia (Mali).
Page 1 of 6rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward
Source: bbc.com