Cape Town City had Ayanda Patosi to thank for snatching a point at Orlando Pirates and boost them ahead of their MTN8 final next week.
The Citizens, missing coach Benni McCarthy who was with his ill wife in hospital, found themselves 2-0 goals down inside 16 minutes at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.
But with assistant coach Vasili Manousakis in the dugout, City rode out the storm and fought back.
And an inspirational double from attacking midfielder Patosi secured a point for the team, boosting them for their trip to Durban to face SuperSport United for the first trophy of the season.
After defensive lapses saw Augustine Mulenga open the scoring for Bucs and Innocent Maela double the lead, Patosi took centre stage.
In the 69th-minute, the hot-and-cold ace chested down a poor clearance on the edge of the box and thumped a left-footed volley home.
City caught fire and eight minutes later, he scored from a rehearsed freekick.
And the Man of the Match says: “I think the first goal I scored gave the team the spirit to come and fight for another goal. It was a nice goal – when I get in that area I tell myself I just have to shoot, either left or right and lucky enough it was a goal
“The second goal, it was a set-piece and I always try and direct them towards goals, and today it worked.”
Manousakis revealed that after a poor start, the game went according to plan.
The coach adds: “We set up from the beginning because we knew they were going to press us high and we said we are going to go into a low block but we found ourselves 2-0 down, and I say respectfully, from two very, very soft goals.
“We are really proud of the boys and besides being brave, they really showed a lot of character.
“To get a point is not the best but it is good enough, considering we were two goals down against a very, very good team who is in form.”
In Wednesday’s other PSL action, champions Mamelodi Sundowns won 1-0 at Golden Arrows to remain unbeaten.