Replacement halfback Sam Nock has scored a try after the fulltime siren to lead the Blues to a 41-34 Super Rugby Pacific victory over Queensland Reds at Brisbane.
Trailling by 11 points with little more than 10 minutes remaining, the Aucklanders ran in converted tries to No.8 Hoskins Sotutu and replacement hooker Kurt Eklund to draw level, with the prospect of 'Golden Point' looming.
As 80 minutes expired, the Reds had the ball in hand and a chance to avoid the extra period, but lost possession near halfway. When the Blues shifted left, All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke broke down the wing and headed infield, before finding Nock with a straight run to the line for victory.
"We have to respect the Reds and how quickly they came back in that second half," reflected captain Patrick Tuipulotu. "They scored some pretty crucial tries, put us on the backfoot and really put some pressure on us.
"For us, it was focusing on the next job. We knew they had a strong forward pack and play similar to us - they want to muscle up, get good set-piece and good lineout."
The Blues had to overcome a breakout second-half try hattrick to rookie Reds winger Tim Ryan, but showed some composure to remain in the contest.
Reds centre Josh Flook looked menacing early, as he roared into the Blues 22, but his threat was quickly extinguished by Tuipulotu.
When Queensland stole a lineout throw, halfback Kalani Thomas kicked to the corner and winger Suliasi Vunivalu brushed off Blues fullback Cole Forbes to score, but replays exposed a knockon that nullified the points.
The Blues opened the scoring off the back of a string of penalties and forward pressure that saw Tuipulotu power across for a try.
Their second came, after first-five Harry Plummer hit the upright with a penalty attempt from in front, but halfback Taufa Funaki chased hard to gather the rebound and Sotutu floated a long pass for Forbes to score in the corner.
From the kickoff, Reds No.8 Harry Wilson charged down the sideline, but when the Blues attempted a quick throw-in, they put themselves under undue pressure to clear, which they never quite achieved.
After 14 phases under penalty advantage, former All Blacks prop Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen powered over for the Reds.
The home side rushed back onto the attack, when first-five Tom Lynagh chipped and gathered, sending Flook away. When Funaki caught him, a crossfield kick from second-five Hunter Paisami bounced into touch and the Blues were able to clear.
The visitors lost second-five Bryce Heem to a yellow card for a high tackle off the ball. Plummer was struggling with his kicking boots, after two missed conversions and the penalty, but managed to bounce another attempt off the crossbar to stretch the Blues lead with halftime beckoning.
Trailling 13-7 at the break, Queensland started the second half strongly, with Paisami splitting the defence inside the Blues 22. After 18 phases, Vunivalu made up for his previous mistake to score.
Lynagh also found the upright with his sideline conversion, as the Blues retained a tenuous one-point lead - but not for long.
On attack, prop Angus Ta'avao couldn't hold a pass, and Paisami kicked and gathered to put winger Ryan on a 50-metre dash to the tryline.
The Blues forwards tried to impose themselves and, under penalty advantage, Sotutu rolled over on his back, unable to force for the try. After two close-range scrums, Ta'avao held onto the ball to lunge over for a try.
Plummer's conversion reclaimed the lead, but it was shortlived. Sotutu stepped on the touchline, as he fielded the restart, and from the lineout, Queensland spread wide for Ryan to dive over in the corner.
Moments later, he scored his third try, turning the Blues defence inside out from a scrum near halfway.
When Forbes marked a kick inside his own 22, he took a quick tap and sent winger Mark Tele'a away, with AJ Lam delivering an inside pass for Sotutu - the competition's leading tryscorer - to finish. With 10 minutes remaining, the Blues were only still only four points adrift.
They stole a lineout throw in their own 22 and tried to break out, but when Tele'a knocked on in front of his posts, the Reds won a penalty and Lawson Creighton stretched their lead to seven.
The Blues weren't done though, with Sotutu over halfway and replacement hooker Kurt Eklund scoring beside the posts. Plummer's conversion tied the scores at 34-34, with 'Golden Point' looming.
Queensland tried valiantly to finish the contest, but the turnover after the siren proved a heartbreaker, as Clarke and Nock used their fresh legs off the bench to full profit.
The result wasn't quite enough for the Blues to catch the Hurricanes at the top of the table, but they sit just one point adrift, with a visit to Melbourne Rebels scheduled for Friday.
Blues 41 (Tuipulotu, Forbes, Ta'avao, Sotutu, Eklund, Nock tries; Plummer penalty & 4 conversions) Queensland Reds 34 (Ryan 3, Toomaga-Allen, Vunivalu tries; Lynagh 2 conversions, Creighton conversion & penalty)
