Australia's FFA Cup round of 32 matches kicked off in style on Wednesday night with the Palm Beach Sharks overcoming former National Soccer League giants South Melbourne 8-7 in a penalty shootout after the scores finished 1-1 after 120 minutes.
The Sharks looked determined to repeat last season's heroics, but it was the Victorians who got off to the better start with a couple of set-piece chances going close early on.
Their efforts were duly rewarded just after the half-hour mark when Milos Lujic headed home from the back post off a cross from the left-flank.
South Melbourne's lead was short-lived, however, when Florian Matk coolly converted from the spot after SM custodian Nikola Roganovic cynically brought down Rees Duncan in the box.
Lacklustre efforts in front of goal in the second half and extra-time saw both sides fail to secure the knock-out blow within 120 minutes of play.
Eventually, Palm Beach came out on top after keeper Shane Viitakangas managed to keep out Michael Eagar's spot-kick in what proved to be a pulsating penalty shootout.
It wasn't all bad news for the Victorian outfits, however, with Heidelberg United sealing a comfortable 3-1 win over Broadmeadow Magic in Newcastle.
The former NSL outfit, currently in second place in Victoria's Premier League, were keen to make an impact on their return to the national stage, and did so in emphatic style after just 24 minutes when Jack Petrie coolly fired his shot into the top left hand corner.
Moments later, an excellent Dan Heffernan assist helped Kaine Sheppard double Heidelberg's lead.
Heffernan then found the back of the net himself five minutes before the break, leaving Broadmeadow with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Scott Pettit pulled one back for the Magic in the 74th minute, but in the end it was too little, too late.
Meanwhile, Blacktown City were unable to translate their supreme form in the state league to the FFA Cup as they were narrowly edged out 2-1 by MetroStars SC at the Lily Homes Stadium in Sydney's west.
For the opening stages, it seemed as if the South Australian outfit could not contain a squad littered with attacking flair and experienced A-League players, which eventually culminated in a 35th minute goal for the hosts when attacking midfielder Patrick Antelmi slotted home off a Mitchell Mallia assist.
However, the MetroStars restored parity after the restart when Jonathan Negus headed home from the corner in the 60th minute. The striker then played a crucial role in helping Rocky Callisto snare the winner to ensure the MetroStars progression into the round of 16.
Meanwhile, Hume City emerged as 4-3 victors in their match-up with the Brisbane Strikers at the newly revamped Broadmeadows Valley Park in front of a packed crowd.
Hume City had made a name for themselves in the earlier stages of their campaign as they steamrolled their opposition with efficient counter-attacking football, and they got off to a lively start in the fifth minute when attacking midfielder Nick Hegarty scored into the top left corner courtesy of a Jai Ingham assist.
The Strikers, though, equalised 20 minutes later when Greig Henslee scored off a corner.
After a slow start to the second half, the game went into overdrive when the Queensland outfit looked to have sealed another appearance into the round of 16 through a Scot Coulson goal before Hume City's Marcus Schroen hit back moments later, sending the match into extra-time.
The Broadmeadows Valley Park crowd were treated to a sense of deja vu in extra-time when Coulson's shot into the bottom left-hand corner found the back of the net only for Schroen to once again bring the teams level.
After 121 minutes of open play, a heartbreaking own-goal from Greg Henslee sealed Brisbane's fate as Hume City secured a spot in the round of 16.