NWS Spirit starting XI: Marques (GK), Cornwell, Percevski (subbed for Williams 58’), Nicholas, Mostofi, Takami, Kavanagh (subbed for Debono 84’), Wiggin, Konestabo (subbed for Kyra 58’), Takumi, Denton (subbed for Jackson-Brown 76’)

Unused substitutes: Coates, Chidiac, Ahluwalia

Goals: Konestabo 52, Kyra 61’ 83’

Avondale starting XI: Mayen (GK), Wellsmore (subbed for Lundy 78’), Reid, Brice, Carpenter, Towns, Abdallah, Tevere (subbed for Cianci 63’), Trajceski, Cuba (subbed for Ott 78’), Fornaroli (subbed for Jakupi 88’)

Unused substitutes: Manos, Gottoli, Pisani

Goals: Fornaroli 45+2’ (Pen), Trajceski 46’, Abdallah 90+7’

Both sides had opportunities, but the deadlock wouldn’t be broken until stoppage time in the first half when Avondale were awarded a penalty for Grant Cornwell’s slight shove on Bruno Fornaroli.

Despite Spirit goalkeeper Chris Marques choosing the correct side and getting a hand to the ball, Fornaroli put too much power on it and sent the Avengers into halftime 1-0 up.

Avondale made it 2-0 immediately after the break through Kristian Trajceski, who finished the one-on-one with Marques with composure after Fornaroli’s dummy allowed him to run through unmarked.

Spirit halved the deficit with an absolute peach of a volley from outside the box by Michael Konestabo in the 52nd minute and drew level nine minutes later through Aedon Kyra, who reacted quickly to turn home an initial save by Avondale keeper Mayen Mayen.

Kyra put the home side ahead in the 82nd minute, reacting sharply again to pick up the crumbs from another Mayen save.

But Avondale weren’t to be denied a point, and in the 97th minute a cross by substitute Dillon Jakupi was palmed by Marques directly into the path of Aamir Abdallah, who made no mistake from close range.

This is the second week in a row that Avondale have scored after the 90-minute mark. “[These late goals] give us a lot of confidence,” said last week’s 94th-minute goal scorer, Zachary Cianci, whose impact off the bench has been profound for the Avengers.

“I’ve come on as a substitute in two games, and in the 60 minutes that the boys have played [before I came on], they’ve worked tirelessly, and I think me coming on gives them a bit of spark.

“It’s important for the substitutes to come on and close out those games in pivotal moments.”

It was a special match for Cianci, who returned to his old stomping ground to face a team he’s still fond of.

“I had a tremendous year at Spirit in 2024. We went really far the Australia Cup and did decent in the league,” he recalled.

“To go back to Christie Park was quite nostalgic for me. I hadn’t been there in a year and to see all the boys there was great; I’ve kept in contact with every single one of them since last year.

“I was just keen to come on and make a statement against my old team.”

When asked if Spirit’s synthetic pitch played a role, Cianci’s response was clear: “100 per cent,” he said.

“The NPL teams in Melbourne are predominantly all on grass,” he explained, “In comparison to the Sydney NPL, all the pitches other than Marconi, Wollongong and a few others are all synthetic, so it’s actually quite a transition for us boys - a lot of the boys ended up having blisters.

“[Playing on a synthetic pitch is] a little bit slower, because [the ball on] grass zips a bit more [whereas] the synthetic … kind of slows down the trajectory of the ball.

“So, it doesn’t suit us as well, because we like to play fast, possession-based football.”

Next up for Avondale is a Friday night blockbuster against Preston Lions.

“It’s going to be a massive game for us and obviously Preston as well, because they need to win the game,” said Cianci, “[We’re expecting a] big atmosphere.”