Central Coast attacker Angel Torres' hat-trick appeared set to deliver the Mariners their first win at AAMI Park since March 23, 2014, and add further pain to sixth-placed City's week after their Asian Champions League exit.
It is now 3,556 days since eighth-placed Central Coast last won at AAMI Park - and they won't have another chance to do so until they face Victory on February 25.
Marin Jakolis gave City the lead in the second minute before Torres put Central Coast in control with goals in the 49th and 60th minutes.
City playmaker Tolgay Arslan equalised in the 63rd minute but Torres appeared to have snared three points when he completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute.
But Lopane bundled home in the second minute of injury time, just four minutes after entering the fray.
Angel Torres' (11) hat-tick had looked set to give the Mariners the victory. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Aurelio Vidmar's City enjoyed the perfect start when Behich burst down the left and lifted the ball tantalisingly across the face of goal.
Central Coast keeper Danny Vukovic couldn't reach the cross and it spilled to Jakolis to tap in at the far post.
The Mariners pounced four minutes into the second half.
Young striker Jing Reec worked the ball out to Storm Roux on the right.
The veteran full-back lifted a cross into the 18-yard box where Samuel Souprayen's attempted clearing header flicked into the path of Torres, who cleverly volleyed home.
The Mariners' second arrived when the excellent Josh Nisbet played through Torres to power home his second.
Then against the run of play, City hit back.
Leo Natel burst away from two defenders then squared a skidding left-footed ball into the path of Arslan, who took a nice touch then coolly finished into the bottom corner.
Torres completed his hat-trick when City failed to clear their lines multiple times and the Colombian attacker charged through to smash home his third goal.
But City wouldn't be held out, with Lopane salvaging a point by bundling home Jakolis' late cross.
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