It took until the final whistle of the final game - which was delayed by half an hour - but the A-League semi-finals were eventually sorted out on Sunday.
Minor premier Melbourne Victory will travel to second-placed Adelaide on Sunday for the first of two major semi-final legs, while Newcastle (third) visit Sydney (fourth) on Friday in the first leg of the sudden death minor semi. The return legs will be played the following weekend.
The winner of Melbourne and Adelaide goes through to, and has the option of hosting, the grand final on February 18.
The loser gets a second chance against the winner of Newcastle and Sydney in a one-off, do-or-die preliminary final on February 11.
Adelaide's 3-1 win on Sunday sorted out the final placings, the three points edging the Reds ahead of Newcastle into the crucial second spot.
Gary van Egmond's Jets are all of a sudden the form side of the competition coming off a 4-0 demolition of Melbourne on Friday night, but the miracle working coach said Victory remains the team to beat.
"I still don't think we've seen the best of Melbourne Victory," van Egmond said.
"I think Ernie (Merrick) is very cagey with what he's doing. He's worked his boys extremely hard the last two weeks. There's no way known I'll be counting the Victory out.
"They've got a number of very good players. They do certainly cause some headaches for you."
Defending champion Sydney scraped into fourth place with a 1-1 draw in Brisbane on Saturday, effectively knocking opponent Queensland Roar out of the race.
The Blues overcame a three point deduction for salary cap breaches late in the season, a threadbare squad and weekly speculation over coach Terry Butcher's future just to make the semis.
The squad will be strengthened by the return of Mark Milligan and Terry McFlynn from suspension and Alvin Ceccoli is also tipped to recover from a foot injury for the weekend.
Now Butcher has warned the competition to look out.
"There's nothing to fear. If we get the preparation right we have every chance," Butcher said.
