Derry City's UEFA Conference League campaign came to an abrupt end, despite the ten men putting up a brave fight against Bruno Magpies at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, losing in the end 3-2 on aggregate.
Magpies' substitute Evan De Haro's 111th minute goal sealed the win, but referee Antoine Chiaramonti was the man everyone was talking about after the game.
The Andorra official disallowed Pat Hoban's first header, before harshly cautioning Adam O'Reilly twice, to reduce the home side to ten just before the break.
The Candystripes took the game to extra-time thanks to goals from Mark Connolly and Hoban, but De Haro's strike in extra-time sealed the aggregate win for the Gibraltar men.
City created the first chance of the encounter on seven minutes, as Michael Duffy saw his left wing centre find Hoban, but the striker's close range header at the near post, sailed over the bar.
Moments later Daniel Kelly's right wing cross found Hoban inside the box, the front man cushioned the ball straight into Paul McMullan's path, but the winger's first time strike failed to trouble Magpies keeper Dayle Coleing.
Magpies' missed a glorious chance to take the lead on 18 minutes as Carlos Garcia's right wing corner picked out Ashton Taylor, but the big defender, who was unmarked, headed wide from 10 yards.
Derry were saved by the woodwork on 24 minutes as Olatunde Bayode's right wing cross into the near post found Javi Forjan and his header, which had Brian Maher scrambling, clipped the post on its way wide.
The home side thought they had taken the lead five minutes later as McMullan's right wing cross found Hoban, who seemed to out-muscle Ruben Diaz to head home, but City's celebrations were cut-short as referee Antoine Chiaramonti awarded a free-out as he felt the striker had fouled the centre-back.
Just after the half-hour mark Kelly's terrible pass inside only found Jack Storer, but the Englishman's long range shot was well parried away by a diving Maher.
City deservedly took the lead on 38 minutes as Ben Doherty's in-swinging corner found Mark Connolly, who made no mistake, as his glancing header gave ex-Glentoran keeper Dayle Coleing no chance.
Right on the stroke of half-time Derry were reduced to ten men in controversial circumstances as Adam O'Reilly, who was cautioned earlier, received a second yellow card, as referee Chiaramonti felt the midfielder had dived inside the box under Juan Arguez's challenge.
Ruaidhri Higgins changed things up at the break after O'Reilly's red-card, he moved Kelly into right-back and Cameron Dummigan slotting into midfield.
To their credit the ten men kept pushing forward at the start of the second half with Duffy finding McMullan, but the winger's angled drive from the right had to be tipped over by Coleing.
Derry levelled the tie up on 57 minutes as Doherty's corner from the right found Will Patching, his close range header was blocked but Hoban was hand to turn home the loose ball. Patching was inches away from scoring a stunning goal, as his long range free-kick caught out Coleing, but the effort, which had the net-minder beaten, landed on top of the net. Magpies should have pulled a goal back on 78 minutes but Edu Salles blazed over from close range, after Kevagn Ronco had created the clear cut opening.
Soon after the ten men missed a great chance to score that all important third goal as McMullan side footed wide with the goal at his mercy, after substitute Daniel Mullen had created the chance.
On 104 minutes Mullen did well to create some space on the edge of the box, but the City sub's long range strike was straight at Coleing.
Magpies scored what turned out to be the crucial winning goal on aggregate as substitute Evan De Haro blasted home from close range on 111 minutes, after Juan Arguez's stunning long range pike driver came back off the crossbar.
The home side went close to scoring a third goal on 116 minutes but Hoban's overhead kick, after Coleing had fumbled Patching's free-kick, was headed off the line by Taylor.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Cameron Dummigan (Sadou Diallo 78), Mark Connolly (Shane McEleney 90), Ciaran Coll, Ben Doherty (Colm Whelan 105); Adam O'Reilly, Will Patching, Paul McMullan; Daniel Kelly (Sam Todd 90), Pat Hoban, Michael Duffy (Daniel Mullen 79).
Bruno Magpies: Dayle Coleing, Ashton Taylor, Francisco Zuniga (Lee Coombes 58), Ruben Diaz, Alex Carrascal, Juan Arguez, Carlos Garcia (Julian Del Rio 112), Jack Storer (Evan De Haro HT), Javi Forjan (Edu Salles 60), Kevagn Ronco (Christian Valle 99), Olatunde Bayode.
Referee: Antonie Chiaramonti (Andorra).
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