Beating Canterbury in Dunedin usually triggers celebrations, but spectators were dancing in the aisles as Otago equalised to 1-1, and then as referee Nick Waldron red-carded Canterbury captain Dan Terris with minutes to go, the local support was baying for blood.
The crowd gave a special cheer to Canterbury coach Keith Braithwaite when he also was sent from the field on the advice of referee assistant Brent Best after making his feelings known.
But the biggest cheer of all was for Nathan Knox who hit his 92nd-minute winner in injury time, and was immediately swamped by a crowd of team-mates celebrating the never-say-die win.
Yet this was no burglary by Otago, snatching a late undeserved win.
"This was one of Otago's best displays in recent years," coach Malcolm Fleming said.
"In difficult, windy conditions, the team played consistently good football against what is regarded as a top Canterbury side. There were no bad performances, and some very, very good form was shown by the likes of Nathan Knox, Andy Coburn, James Reichwein and our keeper Adam Highfield.
"But for a single defensive blunder that cost us that first- half goal, our team shape was steady, as we defended high, and supported attacks in numbers."
With Tim Horner back in defence, he and Tomm Saddy conceded little to the pacy Canterbury attack in which All White Aaron Clapham was anonymous.
Fullbacks Tom Connor and Tristan Prattley delivered telling crosses despite the difficult wind, and young striker Ant Hancock set Canterbury problems darting around in the shadow of Knox.
Despite being less than fully fit, substitute Phil Ruggles came on late to devastating effect, and his well-worked goal originated with Hancock stealing the ball as Canterbury failed to clear, then Ruggles worked a 1-2 pass with Knox before scoring from close range in the 86th minute.
Knox's winner was a just reward for the big guy's tireless endeavour and skill as he drove the ball low through a Canterbury tackle, and under keeper Tom Batty.
Batty made several top saves as Otago turned the screw in the closing minutes, but required his share of luck too as a Ruggles header cannoned off his goalpost, and a surprising agile bicycle kick by Seaman thumped against the base of Canterbury's post.
An extremely grim Braithwaite questioned officials' general handling of the game and his frustration led to his being banished to the grandstand.
"I felt we controlled the game, and after that red card [to centreback Terris] we actually beat ourselves," he said.
"Our best players were Andy Barton and Dan Atwell, and I thought Russell Kamo took his goal well."
In what was a well-contested physical match, only two yellow cards were shown, to Connor and Canterbury's Andy Pitman, and both sides deserve praise for the quality of football played in such a strong wind.
The win once again indicates how close the ASB competition is this year. Otago now has seven competition points, while five teams above, in second place Wellington has 10 points.
The scores
• Otago United - 2
Phil Ruggles, Nathan Knox
• Canterbury United - 1
Russel Kamo
• Halftime: 0-1.
