Max Biamou scored a stunning acrobatic goal in vain as the Sky Blues were held to an entertaining draw with Peterborough United, who snatched an equaliser with the last kick of the game.
Biamou, starting for the first time since August 2018, turned in a marvellous performance scoring four minutes from time having earlier set-up Amadou Bakayoko’s opener.
Marcus Maddison had equalised for Peterborough from the penalty spot before Mo Eisa scored right at the death to nick a point for the home side.
City raced out of the blocks at the Weston Homes Stadium when Callum O’Hare was slid through on goal inside the first minute only to be denied by Christy Pym.
The home side then went straight up the other end of the pitch and created a chance of their own with Ivan Toney unable to keep his effort down from close range.
Marko Marosi then made a superb save to deny Marcus Maddison from 25-yards out on nine minutes, diving high to his left to keep the scores level.
From the resulting corner the returning Max Biamou made an excellent headed clearance to deny Mark Beevers goal bound effort.
The Sky Blues took the lead on 12 minutes when Bakayoko was played in on goal by Biamou before coolly slotting his effort past Pym.
Peterborough looked for a leveller soon after and came close when Toney’s acrobatic overhead kick went just over the bar.
Mark Robins side continued to cause the hosts problems however, with Biamou superbly controlling a lofted pass from Zain Westbrooke before cutting inside of his man and firing straight at Pym.
That man Biamou was in the thick of it again on 37 minutes when he ran onto a long ball before pinning his man and shooting on the turn, inside the penalty area, narrowly missing the target.
City thought they had doubled their lead just before half-time when Bakayoko bundled Sam McCallum’s wicked cross from the left into the net only for the referee to rule the goal out for handball.
Marosi was called into action again one minute before the break when he pushed away George Boyd’s venomous effort from the edge of the penalty area.
HALF-TIME: PETERBOROUGH UNITED 0-1 SKY BLUES
The home side created the first meaningful chance of the second period when Maddison controlled a high ball before once again being denied by Marosi at the near post.
Peterborough equalised moments later after Kyle McFadzean fouled Toney inside the penalty area with Maddison converting the resulting penalty on 52 minutes.
Marosi made yet another fine save four minutes later, denying Toney’s header from point blank range.
The Sky Blues stemmed the tide when Biamou’s overhead kick attempt forced Pym into a save just past the hour mark.
The Posh looked dangerous on the counter attack but still couldn’t get past Marosi from open play with the keeper denying Toney’s low drive as he continued to excel between the sticks.
City continued to search for a winning goal and almost found it when Biamou was picked out by McCallum’s searching cross to the back post with the striker whistling an effort inches wide of the right-hand post.
Shortly after, Westbrooke’s dangerous free kick was flicked on by O’Hare at the near post with Pym equal to the effort.
Biamou scored a wonder goal with four minutes left to play acrobatically lashing home Liam Kelly’s perfect cross on the volley to send the travelling Sky Blues supporters wild.
Peterborough had a chance to level when Toney headed goal wards, but Marosi produced a fingertip save to keep City ahead.
However, the Sky Blues resilience was broken in the final minute of added time when Eisa finished into the right corner of the goal with virtually the last kick of the game.
FULL-TIME: PETERBOROUGH UNITED 2-2 SKY BLUES
Goals: Bakayoko 12’ Maddison 52’, Biamou 86’, Eisa 90’+5
Yellows: McCallum 14’, Mason 21’, Blake-Tracy 23’, Dabo 43’, McFadzean 51’, Knight 57’, Rose 82’
Attendance: 8,005
Peterborough United XI: Christy Pym, Niall Mason (Butler 65’), Frankie Kent, Mark Beevers (C), Frazer Blake-Tracy (Dembele 26’), Louis Reed (Ward 79’), Josh Knight, George Boyd, Marcus Maddison, Mo Eisa, Ivan Toney
Unused Subs: Aaron Chapman (GK), Nathan Thompson, Serhat Tasdemir, Idris Kanu
Sky Blues XI: Marko Marosi (GK), Fankaty Dabo (Watson 60’), Dom Hyam, Kyle McFadzean, Michael Rose, Sam McCallum, Liam Kelly (C), Zain Westbrooke, Callum O’Hare, Amadou Bakayoko (Shipley 76’), Max Biamou
Unused Subs: Ben Wilson (GK), Brandon Mason, Liam Walsh, Josh Eccles, Gervane Kastaneer