North Queensland Fury showed their new steely self-belief with a 2-1 defeat of Sydney FC at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday night.
Chris Payne caused havoc for his former side, setting up teammate Chris Grossman for the home side’s opening goal in the 64th minute.
Terry McFlynn delivered a precision cross to find Scott Jamieson unmarked in the goal box to level the score for the visitors in the 81st minute.
Dyron Daal forced his way through the back four to slot the ball past a defenceless goal keeper to steal the win in the 83rd minute.
It sparked another wild celebration from the green-army with Daal hugging coach Franz Straka before joining his teammates in an orchestrated dance.
It follows a brave 3-3 draw with competition pace-setters the Perth Glory last week.
North Queensland were on course to win after a slow start to the game and could have dropped their shoulders after Sydney levelled the score but showed guts to solider on.
North Queensland produced the best opportunities but was unable to thread the final pass needed to penetrate the defence.
Sydney had the greater momentum by the 21st minute and shifted a gear with several crosses into the box but was unable to find the onion bag.
The Fury then took control.
Isaka Cernak galloped down the wing with a determined dribble in the 24th minute, losing control briefly before regaining possession to orchestrate a long ball but could not find a target.
David Williams intercepted a pass in midfield to sprint towards the goal but became tangled with a defender and lost control of the pill.
Euguen Sseppuya delivered a precision cross to Chris Payne in the 33rd minute, the midfielder drifting through the back four to receive the ball wide open but his header could not beat the goalkeeper.
Payne threatened again with an enterprising dribble down the left field before he was illegally brought down by Stephen Keller who was awarded a yellow card.
Ufuk Talay did not draw a sweat with a lacklustre attempt for a free kick, the ball sailing wide to the left.
North Queensland continued where they left off after half time with Payne, who took possession after Isaka Cernak showed his speed down the left wing, dribbled through two defenders before laying the ball to Grossman to fire into the net in the 64th minute.
Dyron Daal came off the bench and used his clean heels down the wing before sending a low cross past the face of the goal and a lunging goalkeeper sending a gasp through the visitors.
Sydney created one of its few options with Alex Brosque holding the ball in the box before passing back to Nick Carle but he could not pull the trigger with a defender stealing the ball.
Terry McFlynn sent a cross into an unmarked Scott Jamieson who headed the ball with ease into the goal to level the score in the 81st minute.
North Queensland was not going to let it spoil their night with substitute Daal using his size to run through a stacked defence and slot the winner in the 83rd minute.
North Queensland Fury 2 (Grossman 64, Daal 82)
Sydney FC 1 (Jamieson 83)
Crowd 5,177 at Dairy Farmers Stadium
