But the solo performance of Spirit goalkeeper Oswaldo Rodriguez stood out at Memorial Park, where Mosgiel had to work desperately hard to get a 1-0 win over the Invercargill side.
Mosgiel's goal was a third-minute penalty taken by Jordan Sweeney, and it was a rash early challenge by keeper Rodriguez that conceded the spot kick.
But from then on, the South American defied everything Mosgiel threw at him, defying gravity in a goalmouth that was a quagmire, leaping high to cut out crosses, and pushing away, on reflex, several close-range shots.
Mosgiel possibly helped with a lack of direct shots in the first half, dominating possession with clever passing, but apart from some searing runs from wingers Regan Coldicott and Tim Dunn, the home side was toothless.
Spirit player-coach Barry Gardiner said Mosgiel's passing was "impressive in the first half, but as the game went on, with just one goal in it, I thought, 'hello, we could be in here' ".
The Spirit gave the Plainsmen a real shock when Gardiner hammered a shot over the crossbar, and Mark Pearson drilled a strong shot against the Mosgiel upright with keeper Andrew James beaten.
Meanwhile, it was all Rodriguez at the other end, admittedly helped by some do-or-die tackles from captain Steven Black and Kieran Van Loon.
More than once, Morgan Day danced with frustration as his shots stuck in the goalmouth mud, and Mosgiel then tried too hard and shots were screwed wide of goal.
Mosgiel coach Mike McGarry admitted his side's domination foundered on Rodriguez's bravery and agility, but it would have been a "travesty" if his side had not taken full points, he said.
Other goalkeepers possibly had sore backs retrieving balls from nets, as Caversham repeated Queenstown's first-round nightmare with an 11-2 win, and Dunedin Technical crushed Northern 5-0 at the Gardens.
University also romped to a 6-1 win over Grants Braes, thanks to a hat trick by Dylan Stone, goals by Yannik Wouts and Josh Groom, and an own goal. Shannon Cox scored for Braes.
Roslyn-Wakari coach Colin Thom reshuffled his side and successfully placed Brad Johnston at centreback as his side won 3-1 at Sunnyvale.
But it was not one-way traffic, especially as Dan Rutter scored for Green Island, and a missed penalty by Roslyn kept the score at 2-1 at the break.
"We should have scored more, Thom said. "But eventually it was a good win which keeps us five points ahead of the following group of six teams."
