Northern Spirit wound up with nothing from their game against a new- look Sydney United at the Croatian Sports Centre on Sunday, despite going ahead very early, dominating for long periods and rarely being troubled by their opponents.
That was until the 73rd minute when a quick burst upfield led to new signing Zlatko Arambasic, hitherto ineffectual, heading in a sharp cross from the right by another newcomer, substitute Goran Talevski.
That set up a barnstorming finish by the home side who began to believe in themselves at last and scored the winner with just three minutes to go.
Spirit had been playing some delightful football from the word go, with Matthew Langdon causing no end of problems for the United defence. Or should that be the Bravehearts' defence? This was the name the club announced before the match that it was going to be nicknamed from this game, having shed the "Pumas" tag along with the clothing company's sponsorship.
Langdon let rip down the left flank and it was not long before he put his team in front. Troy Cranney found the diminutive wing back with a nice pass and Langdon did the rest with a very smart finish to beat the advancing keeper Brett Hughes.
Hughes was to last only a little longer. He clashed heavily with burly Spirit striker Ben Burgess and suffered bad concussion and had to be be replaced by Steve Tolios, two minutes after conceding that goal. Hughes eventually recovered, but was in very poor shape for at least half an hour after going off.
Spirit took the game to United for at least the first hour, but could not turn their superiority into further goals. Gabriel Mendez was in full cry when he came to grief in the penalty area as an exposed Tolios raced off his line in the 40th minute, but instead of the hoped-for penalty, all he earned was a caution for diving.
He had probably made too much of the challenge which, if he had ridden it, might have seen him go on and score.
As time wore on United kept plugging away and in the end it was from their only two chances of the game that they scored the all important goals which brought them the 2-1 win against all odds. Brave hearts indeed.
The winner arrived from Arambasic. The near veteran was captured from Sydney Olympic, who had only had him for once season after his return from Belgium. The big striker ran onto a nicely weighted through pass from Tom Pondeljak to show his good finishing abilities.
Moments earlier Langdon had found himself one on one with Tolios, but the keeper got his legs in the way and the chance was spurned.
The Northern Spirit defence had looked suspect as it ventured too far out of its ground and was eventually caught napping.
It was not a complete surprise.
The team was ordered to report for training next day for a double session and no doubt a tough workout and tongue-lashing from coach Graham Arnold who looked 'gutted; after the game.
Meanwhile his counterpart, new Sydney coach Alan Hunter, was all smiles, as well he might be after his first game as a coach in the NSL, a winning debut.