Bohemians were ahead in the tie against Fehervar, and again in the penalty shootout, but lost their Europa League first round tie in Hungary.
Despite being 14-1 outsiders to cause an upset, Keith Long's side soared ahead through Keith Ward’s 22nd-minute strike before Nemanja Nikolic equalised from the penalty spot.
Chances fell to both sides, but extra-time and penalties were required to separate them.
The shock still seemed on when Stephen McGuinness saved Armin Hodzic’s first spot-kick, but misses by Dan Casey and Kris Twardek allowed the Hungarian powerhouses to recover and see out the tie.
Four straight wins since the restart makes Bohemians the most consistent team in the League of Ireland and that pattern applies to their selection too.
Long was able to pick the same starting line-up for the fourth successive match, their game plan once again reliant on the pace and trickery of Twardek and Danny Grant manning the flanks.
The pair had to be patient in the early stages as the favourites bossed possession, leading to McGuinness in the Bohs goal enduring a few scares.
It took a clearance from Casey to prevent captain Nikolic tapping in an opener after only three minutes.
Casey and his defence were then caught ball-watching from a ninth-minute corner, allowing unmarked Brazilian Alef plant a header which McGuinness repelled with his legs.
Moments later, Funsho Bamgboye almost punished Rob Cornwall’s hesitancy, only to arrow his shot past the near post.
Once that opening spell of pressure was absorbed, the Gypsies made some inroads on the counter.
Grant and Ward combined on the right after 12 minutes to create space, forcing an interception from Adrian Rus just as the latter was poised to release Twardek.
Within a few seconds, Bohs had their first effort on target, a 20-yard snapshot by Andre Wright which Adam Kovacsik easily gathered, but the goalkeeper was unable to keep out the breakthrough goal on 22 minutes.
Twardek was the architect, racing past his marker to the end-line and cutting a low square ball back across the box for Ward to connect first time. Kovacsik managed to get a hand to the ball, without preventing it creeping over the line.
That opener sparked loud chants from the sprinkling of Bohs fans inside the almost empty 15,000-seater, but also provoked an immediate response from the favourites.
Nikolic was flagged offside when glancing his header into the net and McGuinness had to turn over Ivan Petriak’s cross deflected off Andy Lyons.
Still, Fehervar’s main threat revolved around Lyes Houri, and it was the invention of the French midfielder which drew Cornwall into a mistimed lunge on Attila Fiola inside the box. Nikolic stepped up to blast the penalty into the right top corner.
The skipper was eager to retrieve the ball for a swift restart and nearly grabbed another approaching the break, only for Casey’s block.
That pace was maintained by the hosts after the break, with Evandro driving a rising shot just off target and Petriak’s bullet header coming even closer to sneaking inside the near post of McGuinness.
Yet, against that flow of quality, Bohs succeeded in carving out opportunities of retaking the lead.
Ward, in his last contribution before being substituted with seven minutes left, weaved his way inwards from the left to get a clear sight on goal, yet screwed his shot wide with Kovacsik beaten.
Bohs had to ride their luck in extra-time, but didn’t get much of it in the shootout, bowing out at the first hurdle on their return to European competition following an eight-year absence.
Fehervar: Adam Kovacsik; Loic Nego, Adrian Rus, Stopira, Attila Fiola; Alef (Mate Patkai 75), Lyes Houri; Funsho Bamgboye, Evandro Da Silva (Boban Nikolov 100), Ivan Petriak (Krisztian Geresi 109); Nemanja Nikolic (Armin Hodzic 74).
Bohemians: Stephen McGuinness; Andy Lyons, Ron Cornwall (James Finnerty 71), Dan Casey, Anto Breslin; JJ Lunney (Conor Levingston 78), Keith Buckley (Daniel Mandroiu 109); Danny Grant, Keith Ward (Dawson Devoy 84), Kris Twardek; Andre Wright.
Referee: Timotheos Christofi (CYP)
