Matthew Jurman's outstretched boot has given Melbourne Victory a barely deserved 1-0 Big Blue win and leg up in their defence of the A-League premiership.
For 79 minutes, Victory were unable to break open the league's meanest defence but as the match headed towards a stalemate, it was a Sydney FC defender that did the job for them.
The own goal was credited to Jurman, but the plaudits should head to Jesse Makarounas.
The Darwin-born 21-year-old has been only a bit-part player since moving to the Victory four seasons ago.
But the substitute made a most important intervention where Kevin Muscat's championship-winners could not, surging from midfield to send over a centering ball that Jurman could not help but divert past unlucky keeper Vedran Janjetovic.
The grand final rematch had otherwise failed to fire up the 30,493 at Etihad Stadium on Australia Day.
The clearest chance came in the opening minute, when Janjetovic outstandingly saved a one-on-one chance from Besart Berisha.
What followed was a first-half snoozer, where offsides doubled the shots on goal count.
The half's biggest flashpoint arrived on 25 minutes, when Gui Finkler made a late, studs-up challenge on Matt Simon.
The Brazilian is better known for his flair but this was a nasty challenge that left the striker poorly and brought a booking.
Defence was winning the day and for the first time since April, Victory failed to lead a home game at halftime.
But Victory gained momentum from the hour-mark.
Kosta Barbarouses began to get clear of his marker, and on the other flank, Fahid Ben Khalfallah showed the quick thinking to spark something.
An eight-man wall kept out Milos Dimitrijevic's close-range free kick as Sydney sought a goal against the grain.
Victory finally had the ball in the back of the net; but referee Strebre Delovski correctly ruled out Berisha's effort out for another offside.
Then just as most were resigned to a boring draw, up popped Makarounas to settle the contest.
The three points lifts Victory over the Sky Blues into fourth on the A-League table, with the first five teams separated by just two points.
Victory coach Kevin Muscat said the result was just reward for their endeavour against a defensive-minded opponent.
"There was one team trying to win," he said.
"That's no disrespect, it's a clear fact."
"It wasn't the prettiest game to watch as a neutral but we were trying our hardest to make it entertaining."
Beaten Sky Blues boss Graham Arnold refused to be downbeat about the result, just their third loss of the season.
"It's just one of those things. Leigh Broxham did the same down the other end and it just went wide," he said of Jurman's own goal.
"That's football."
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