Montpellier book ticket to Paris

Montpellier upset the odds in Saturday's Top 14 semi-final when a 79th minute penalty earned them a 26-15 win over Racing-Métro.

Montpellier upset the odds in Saturday's Top 14 semi-final when a 79th minute penalty earned them a 26-15 win over Racing-Métro at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.

In an tense finish, Argentine wing Martin Bustos-Moyano put his side ahead with a penalty in the dying moments of a ding-dong battle before Racing fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski missed what would have been the winning drop-goal in the 80th minute.

Montpellier will now travel to the Stade de France in Paris for the first final in the club's history against Toulouse on June 4.

Leading 23-6 with half-an-hour to play, les Héraultais looked to have the match sewn up, only to see Racing launch an incredible comeback.

In fact the Parisians took the lead at 25-23 in the 76th minute before Bustos-Moyano's late kick snatched victory for the underdogs.

Despite their uncharacteristic poor discipline – they were shown two yellow cards – Montpellier were deserved winners and were rewarded for their positive intentions.

MHR took a 13-6 lead after 33 minutes when centre Sylvain Mirande scored the opening try after a break from lock Alikisio Fakate.

Montpol extended their lead after the half-time break when fly-half François Trinh-Duc broke down the touchline before offloading to Pumas centre Santiago Fernandez, who scored in the corner.

Ten minutes later Racing launched their comeback when full-back Benjamin Fall's counter-attack resulted in a try for Fijian wing Sireli Bobo.

Wisniewski – who had an unusually bad game from the kicking tee – got his side within striking distance when he converted his own try going into the final quarter.

Les Franciliens drew level in the 76th minute when John Qovu crashed over from short range before Wisniewski's conversion put them ahead, setting up a grandstand finish.

The rest is – quite literally – history…

The scorers:

For Racing-Métro:
Tries: Bobo, Wisniewski, Qovu
Cons: Wisniewski 2
Pens: Steyn, Wisniewski

For Montpellier:
Tries: Mirande, Fernandez
Cons: Bustos Moyano 2
Pens: Bustos Moyano 4

Yellow cards: Rofes (Montpellier – 14th min – late tackle); Trinh-Duc (Montpellier – 52nd min – late tackle)

Racing-Métro 92: 15 Benjamin Fall, 14 Sireli Bobo, 13 Henry Chavancy, 12 François Steyn, 11 Julien Saubade, 10 Jonathan Wisniewski, 9 Mathieu Loree, 8 Alvaro Galindo, 7 Jacques Cronje, 6 John Leo'o, 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Karim Ghezal, 3 Benjamin Sa , 2 Benjamin Noiro, 1 Julien Brugnaut.
Replacements: 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 John Qovu, 19 Sebastien Chabal, 20 Nicolas Durand, 21 Mirco Bergamasco, 22 Remi Vaquiin, 23 juan Pablo Orlandi Bernard Le Roux.

Montpellier HR: 15 Benjamin Thiery, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Sylvain Mirande, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Martin Bustos Moyano, 10 François Trinh-Duc, 9 JulienTomas, 8 Mamuka Gorgodze, 7 Masinivanua Matadigo, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo (c), 5 Alikisio Fakate, 4 Hendrickus Hancke, 3 Giorge Jgenti, 2 Fabien Rofes, 1 Juan Guillermo Figallo.
Replacements: 16 Joan Caudullo, 17 Namaa Leleimalefaga, 18 Mickael De Marco, 19 Vassili Bost, 20 Benoit Paillaugue, 21 Pierre Berard, 22 Grant Rees, 23 Kevin Kervarec.

Referee: Romain Poite