A coaching and defensive blunder trashed Sydney's hold on three points at home against Adelaide this week.
But both teams contributed to a highly entertaining match. And Sydney fans can return to Aussie Stadium for the remainder of the season confident their team will provide the obligatory '90 emotions in 90 minutes'.
As Adelaide's coach Aurelio Vidmar said, the visitors played well as a team. But Sydney were fun to watch. When it all comes together they could be magnificent.
The advent of the Brazilian striker Patrick in the second half brightened up proceedings, though lacking his countryman Juninho's accuracy.
Sydney coach Branko Culina threw the match away, making the reckless Ruben Zadkovich sweeper when captain Tony Popovic had to be replaced the end of the first half.
Its not a good start at Sydney home games when you have to listen to a new ?anthem, My City of Sydney, that puts the crowd to sleep. The dreary tune is more suitable for late in the evening at a supper club - or with a cup of cocoa just before bedtime.
'My warm city of Sydney', it was not.
Sydney's game was ruined in the third minute when Clint Bolton came out bravely to punch a clearance and took out Popovic in the process. Popovic stayed down a long while. His movement and Sydney's defence were henceforth hampered.
Sydney's star, Juninho, was in fine form from the outset, executing a nice flick on for Alex Brosque who was taken out by Michael Valkanis - and that set the pattern for the rest of the game.
Ufuk Talay took the free kick and Sydney won a corner, taken by Juninho. Mark Rudan side-footed the ball, brushing the top of the Adelaide crossbar.
Adelaide responded immediately and Bolton again had to rush off his line to clear.
In the eighth minute Sydney's slow defence was exposed by Nathan Burns who threaded through three players before crossing from the left of the Sydney penalty area. The ball passed behind two Adelaide players but rolled into the path of Richie Alagich who slotted home easily.
Sydney were back in the game four minutes later when left side midfielder Robbie Middleby was brought down by Alagich in the Adelaide penalty area.
Talay took the kick. Robert Bajic saved. But Talay followed through and made sure the second time.
Travis Dodd looked handy down Adelaide's right. Zadkovich showed a bit of flair down Sydney's right. He switched toward Middleby who needed to be a metre taller to do anything with the delivery.
Steve Corica crossed from Sydney's right and Sydney won another corner.
Dodd made some space for himself in Sydney's penalty area but pulled his shot to the left of goal.
Bobby Petta, free on the left, hit the ball tantalisingly between the right post and the oncoming Bruce Djite.
Sydney continued putting the ball about. Adelaide continued putting their bodies about.
Petta and Cassio kept some possession playing off one another, but Sydney pushed them backwards.
In the 25th minute Sydney failed to capitalise when an Adelaide defender nodded the ball down for Bajic who was caught totally unawares.
Juninho had spent nearly 15 minutes with barely a touch.
Zadkovich, meanwhile, was having mixed results; getting very involved, spoiling some Adelaide advances, but all too often giving away possession.
Juninho got the ball but was fouled by Cassio. Then in the 33rd minute Juninho had a bit of a run down the left and played in to Brosque whose shot was blocked.
Djite, fed into the Sydney penalty area, fired to the right of goal. Bolton then had to make a good low save to stop Burns who latched onto a ball pulled back from the right corner.
In the 36th minute Brosque had a good chance from the left of the Adelaide box but Bajic saved with his feet. Sydney won two corners, the second of which was cleared by Angelo Costanzo.
Adelaide were on a quick break with Djite on the left having only Bolton to beat. Djite took the ball wide left to be clear of Bolton and shoot at an open goal. But Corica had tracked back with purpose and cleared off the line, to rapturous applause from the Cove.
In the 43rd minute Juninho worked a one-two with Brosque who shot to the right of goal.
At half time the guy sitting in front of me asked to report that Zadkovich was the worst player in the whole A-League. I'm not sure that it's true. But I have reported what he said.
Sydney started the second half with Patrick added to the strike force and Zadkovich sweeping between Rudan and Fyfe, apparently because coach Branko Culina thought he'd be best able to cope with Burns and Djite's speed. Yes, but - On the positive side for Sydney, Patrick livened up the game with stepovers and quick combinations.
Corica crossed from the left and Sydney had several half chances in front of goal. Adelaide countered, Rudan cleared and Jonas Salley cut out a ball meant for Patrick.
Patrick was fouled and then Juninho was fouled by Salley. The free kick was played square to Juninho whose cracking shot hit the crossbar. It?s surprising how a fellow of such small stature can hit the ball so hard.
Talay, who has conceded quite a few free kicks, legally dropped Burns with an outside of the foot block tackle.
Adelaide had a sharp dig from left midfield but Bolton was up to it.
In the 56th minute Djite relived his first half blunder, this time going to the right of Bolton to get a shot at the open goal. But it was Iain Fyfe who slid in to cover the near post and block Djite's shot.
Juninho, Corica and Brosque couldn't quite make it work on the left of the Adelaide penalty area. And in the 59th minute Brosque crossed from the left and Patrick put the ball over the crossbar from two metres. Talk about entertaining!
Robert Cornthwaite crashed into Brosque in Adelaide's penalty area. Sydney wanted a penalty and were disappointed. Adelaide were upset that Sydney even got a corner out of it.
In the 64th minute Patrick headed over on a cross from the right. A minute later Costanzo fouled Juninho. Bajic saved Juninho's free kick and followed the ball crashing into the woodwork.
Rudan was doing well in defence, safely clearing crosses and long balls. But Cornthwaite managed to make contact with a free kick from the right, though heading very high.
Corica tried to play Patrick through, but Alagich put good pressure on him.
Djite was strong against Zadkovich down the right. Bolton came out to collect his cross.
In the 74th minute Juninho slipped the ball into the left of the Adelaide penalty for Brosque who shot across the face of goal inside the right post. Juninho was the hero: great vision, great execution. And Sydney were in front.
But then Zadkovich stuffed up big time. Playing at a ball that should have been Bolton's, Zadkovich wildly skied it. When the ball came down Bolton had retreated instead of waiting underneath for a simple mark. Adelaide pounced. Djite provided. Burns scored.
Adelaide had much the better of play thereafter, though Talay had a high shot with a few minutes to go.
In the end, Sydney had more attempts but Adelaide had more on target. Adelaide had slightly more possession. And, despite the frustration for fans, players and coaches, it was good fun.
After the game Culina said he thought it had been an excellent game between two good sides. He described Adelaide's equaliser as resulting from a stupid mistake, saying Sydney had the game in the bag and, with the calibre of their defence, should have done better. He said Sydney were not yet good enough to kill off the game when necessary.
Vidmar agreed it was a great game from both sides but thought Adelaide had numerous chances to take three points. He was pleased with the performance of the whole group, that everyone played their role and the team kept its structure.
Some commentators expressed disappointment with the crowd, but it was almost the same size as the attendance of the rugby league crowd at Telstra stadium the night before - and the atmosphere was far better at the real football!
And while making comparisons - at Telstra there were replays of all incidents at the ground, even head high hits. But not at the real football stadium. Is it really easier to incite Sydney Football fans than Tigers supporters?