A stunning late equaliser has seen Moreland Zebras draw 2-2 with FC Bendigo on Saturday night, in the latter’s first ever home match in the NPL 1.

After some local entertainment featuring the Bendigo Dragons, it was the Zebras who were breathing fire in the first 15 minutes with Simon Tolli chipping Sebastian Mattei after 10 minutes but unable to keep it under the bar.

FC Bendigo looked nervous in defence with more than one mix-up that ended with Mattei clearing the ball out for a throw in.

Amara Kromah, the man with the distinction of scoring FC Bendigo’s first ever goal, also earned the right to claim its first home goal after 19 minutes when a counter attack ended with a penalty box scramble, which saw his neat finish put the home side one up.

This settled some nerves in the Bendigo camp but only served to fire up the Zebras.

Joel Nikolic blazed over from 20 yards, while Scott Robson’s free kick only found its way into Mattei’s arms.

The best chance for the Zebras in the first half came when Adam Centofanti’s acrobatic effort sailed past the post just before the halftime break.

The second half started much the same as the first, with an instant attack from the Zebras, but it was to only a result in an attempt blasted wide.

FC Bendigo then stepped it up with a change in momentum for the next 15 minutes, with one smothering save from Mattei the only blip during that period.

It was almost fitting that captain and Bendigo local Trent Waterson got on the scoresheet after converting a corner with a bullet header to double the lead in the 56th minute.

With the nerves settled it looked like the wind had been taken out of the Moreland sails until Liam Brian’s looping header caught Mattei a couple of yards off his line with 10 minutes to go.

The task was made ever harder for FC Bendigo when Victor Rodriguez was booked for a shirt tug and then shown a second yellow, 60 seconds after almost scoring a stunning 30-yard pearler.

Predictably, the last five minutes were spent in the Zebras’ final third and the pressure paid off in the 90th minute when Tolli struck across the FC Bendigo goal and watched the net bulge as the Moreland bench rose on mass to celebrate a very late point.

Although disappointed not to walk away with all 3 points, FC Bendigo will head into next week’s match with St Albans Saints knowing it has a point to open its account, while Moreland heads back to Melbourne to take on Sunshine George Cross.

FULL TIME: FC Bendigo (Amara Kromah 19’, Trent Waterson 56’) drew Moreland Zebras 2 (Liam Brian 80’, Simon Tolli 90’) at Tom Flood Sports Centre

Red Card: Victor Rodriguez 83’ (FC Bendigo)