Substitute Tahj Minniecon scored seven minutes from time, and fellow sub Michael Zullo a second deep into added time, to give Queensland Roar a much-needed three points against another ten-man Melbourne Victory at Docklands Stadium on Sunday evening, keeping the Brisbane team in touch with league's leading group.
Minniecon had only been on the park nine minutes before he skipped away from Victory central defenders Rody Vargas and Kevin Muscat, before cutting across the front edge of the penalty-area and shooting truly low at the far-post.
Zullo had been on the ground for the same amount of time, and took advantage of Victory's pressing for the equaliser, showing a clean pair of heels to Muscat who had sought to cover him on the left touchline before also scoring low to the left post in the fourth minute of added time, making the scoreline better reflect Roar's endeavours in the game.
Roar coach Frank Farina was naturally pleased at his side's win. "We played very well. In the first half, we created four or five very good chances. Overall, we deserved the win," he said.
"If we continue to play in the manner (we are), things will turn for us."
"We played six games, and that was our first defeat. I wouldn't take anything away from Queensland," said Victory coach Ernie Merrick. "They deserved the result."
"I don't think the first half was our best, but we really picked up in the second half. We probably played some of our best football when we went down to ten players," he said.
Victory's Costa Rican link-man Carlos Hernandez was the latest in a series of Victory players to see the referee's red card, dismissed just before the hour for his second yellow card of the game, coming barely ten minutes after his first.
Queensland Roar had much the better opportunities of the first half, an appropriate reward because of the way Roar took the game up to Melbourne. Indeed, there was little reason for Queensland to do otherwise if it wished to stay in touch with the leading group, already beginning to create a sizeable gap after just five rounds.
Melbourne's forward line was not linking well with its midfield, nor creating enough space to shoot. Roar's defence, led by Craig Moore, was dealing competently with what it faced, which ? to be fair ? did not have the cutting edge the large and enthusiastic Melbourne crowd had become accustomed to seeing this season.
Victory coach Ernie Merrick was compelled to make some tactical alterations at the start of the second half to try to spread the game wider, such was the grip Roar held in midfield.
"Queensland was the better team in the first half and forced us to play the ball back a lot more than we normally play. But the second half we changed our formation a little bit ? and we started to come into the game. Even with the send off, I thought we played some of our best football (after half-time)."
The signs were there from the start that this Roar side was going to take the initiative. Victory was on the back foot for most of the game as a consequence, unable to take control of the game from the visitors.
On the quarter-hour, an error by the usually rock-solid Muscat out wide, allowed Reinaldo to skip clear and then cross to Charlie Miller in space inside the penalty-area. Miller's volley went over. If that was a warning, it wasn't heeded.
Ten minutes later, Miller outran Jose-Luis Lopez down the right, crossing to Sergio van Dijk at the forward edge of the penalty-area and also untroubled by defensive attention. Van Dijk's volley struck the outside of the far post, much to the relief of stranded Victory goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak.
Shortly after, Langerak pulled off a remarkable save from Reinaldo after the Brazilian had been set free by a clever Miller pass which caught out a square Victory defensive line looking for an offside flag. None ? correctly - was forthcoming, leaving Reinaldo metres clear of any defender, and running directly at Langerak. The young goalkeeper spread himself to block Reinaldo's fierce strike, gratefully gathered on the rebound by Matthew Kemp.
Langerak had his cross-bar to thank for the next escape. Sergio struck it with his powerful header from Matt McKay's free-kick after Rody Vargas had been adjudged to have fouled the combative Danny Tiatto on the right wing.
Merrick didn't like what he saw unfolding, so brought on youngster Evan Berger for Kemp at the start of the second half.
Tom Pondeljak came on ten minutes later, but this was because Michael Thwaite had to be withdrawn after aggravating his ankle injury.
Hernandez became the latest in a series of Victory players to see a referee's red card, after twice being booked inside ten minutes of the second half. His second was especially stupid, given, as it was, for an outrageous dive, seeking to mislead referee Ben Williams that he'd been fouled, once the Costa Rican realised he could not burst through on a break at the halfway line. Melbourne now faced its third game in a row a player down. Given how it was outplayed when it had the full complement of eleven, it was hard to see how it could compete a player shy.
But maybe this was just the signal Melbourne was awaiting. Danny Allsopp went on a galloping run down the left, and released Berger overlapping on the touchline. Berger's pace set him free and able to cut inside along the goal-line, crossing to the near-post where Allsopp had taken position. Andrew Packer got a foot to the ball to snuff out the danger.
Billy Celeski brought out a blocking save from Roar goalkeeper Liam Reddy after a run down the right shortly after.
In between, Muscat had dispossessed van Dijk just as the Roar striker was about to shoot, after Vargas had allowed him to run clear. Muscat from alongside, and Langerak from in front, managed to combine effectively, and cleanly, to block.
But Victory's defence was now wilting, and the late changes by Farina, bringing on the fresh and youthful legs of Minniecon and Zullo brought the reward Roar's bright play deserved, even if it came later than expected.
"The key for us was to try to get around (the Victory defence), and not through them," said Farina. "With the pace that Michael and Tahj possess, they're a nightmare for anyone if they've got the ball at their feet and they're running at them."
"It worked a treat, it did the job for us. And on top of that, they both scored."