Milos Ninkovic scored a fine double to spare Sydney FC's blushes in a madcap 2-2 A-League draw with an under-strength Melbourne City.
Twice the Sky Blues came from behind at AAMI Park on Saturday night and twice Filip Holosko was at the assist for Ninkovic.
The Serbian's goals ensured the spoils would be shared after City stole the lead against the run of play.
Aaron Hughes looked out of touch and lucky to be on the pitch before heading City into the lead after 37 minutes.
Ninkovic restored parity, but City's golden-boot leader Bruno Fornaroli produced his 11th goal of the season for 2-1.
SCOREBOARD: MCY 2-2 SYD
 | City 2-2 Sydney FC |  |
|---|---|---|
| at AAMI Park, January 2, 2015 | ||
| 4 | Shots on target | 8 |
| 9 | Shots off target | 19 |
| 46% | Possession | 54% |
| 7 | Corners | 11 |
| 2 | Offsides | 1 |
| Melbourne City: 2 (Hughes 37', Fornaroli 60') Sydney FC: 2 (Ninkovic 53' 78') | ||
View full stats sheet
Ninkovic made it 2-2 and substitute Shane Smeltz might have grabbed it at the death, only to volley over.
City could not have complained after producing their poorest start of the season.
Talismanic Socceroo Aaron Mooy (ribs) was one of five exclusions, along with Erik Paartalu (soreness) and Ivan Franjic (quad).
The mass-change affected City, who began like a team of park footballers.
Sydney ran rampant, denied only by a combination of last-ditch defending, wayward shooting and City gloveman Thomas Sorensen.
Hughes showed none of the experience from his 455 English Premier League matches, twice misjudging the ball in flight to leave his team terribly exposed.
A fired-up Jacob Melling unleashed a tackle on George Blackwood worthy of a Sky Blue penalty, but it was overlooked by referee Strebre Delovski.
When Michael Zullo appeared at the half-way line shortly after it seemed Hughes or Matt Millar would pay for their poor starts, but instead debutant midfielder Ali Eyigun was withdrawn.
Then City produced a sucker punch, with Hughes heading home Harry Novillo's accurate corner.
The Sky Blues responded after the break, with Ninkovic producing the match's best goal.
The 31-year-old diverted Holosko's cross past Sorensen with the inside of his heel, wheeling away in delight with the equaliser.
City looked there for the taking but Novillo drove them forward once more, finding the Uruguayan on the hour mark.
Fornaroli was barely a factor in the match for the opening hour but climbed high to power a header past Vedran Janjetovic.
Sydney coach Graham Arnold's blushes were spared with 12 minutes remaining, when Alex Gersbach's cross found Holosko to head back for Ninkovic.
The equaliser was tough for City but worse could yet be to come, with Jacob Melling hobbling from the ground with a suspected knee injury.
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