At McEwen Reserve, the Suns were seconds away from a huge win against North Geelong, before Warrior Anthony Banovac headed home a cross in the 92nd minute to complete a 2-2 draw.
It is a remarkable third time the Suns have conceded in second-half stoppage time this season, dropping a grand total of five points — a haul that would carry the eighth-placed Suns right up the table to third.
A frustrated Suns coach Craig Carley was running out of answers for his side’s ability to throw away points.
‘‘It’s definitely frustrating and two points dropped in that position,’’ he said.
‘‘I thought we played quite well and didn’t give up too many chances. To concede so late was really very disappointing, if I’m honest.
‘‘If we’d taken those five points we’re right in the mix, now we’ve got five points from six games.’’
The late heartbreak took the shine off a particularly polished Suns performance, headlined by teen phenom Alou Kuol’s double.
Kuol, 18, needed just three minutes to open the scoring, finishing a neat pass from Carley from the tightest of angles.
After Lochie McGrath levelled the scores shortly before half-time, capitalising on a loose ball after a world-class save from Suns custodian Fraser Greenwood, Kuol was at it again, smashing one home after a penalty box scramble.
‘‘Alou was fantastic on the night, he’s got all the attributes to be a great player,’’ Carley said.
‘‘He’s just got to work on his fitness because he needs to be able to see out 90 minutes, he’s not quite there at the minute. But he’s a fantastic talent and we’re looking ahead to a huge season from him.’’
Carley had swung the axe in team selection, dropping Billy Marshall and Zac Balaburov to the bench with the injured Jamie England unavailable, striker Ahmet Turer brought into the starting 11 along with James and Geordie Lelliott.
The new-look side controlled much of the contest and looked defensively improved, with an intensity lift across the park having it get within seconds of an upset win against a side sitting second on the NPL2 East table.
‘‘We’d done our homework and worked out their style and thought that was the best way to combat them,’’ Carley said.
‘‘But it was also about those boys’ effort and their work-rate in training. I’ve said to the team that boys that are fit and desperate to play will, and those that aren’t fit will have a couple of weeks to get fit or they won’t be fit for selection.
‘‘We’ve had a big push in fitness the last week or so and we’ll continue to do that. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the issue is, just little one-percenters aren’t happening.’’
Sitting eighth, the Suns remain just five points off promotion contention, but have already been dragged into the NPL2 East’s magnified relegation battle, with only the top six sides to remain in the second tier of Victorian football.
‘‘We need to get out of this slump. This week’s game (against Melbourne City) is tough, but every game is a tough one in the NPL,’’ Carley said.
‘‘If you don’t turn up, you’ll get turned over.’’
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