Song Ui-young was the star of the show for Home United on Tuesday as his brace helped beat Vietnam's Than Quang Ninh 3-2 and claim their first win in Group H of the AFC Cup.
Although the South Korean had initially put the Protectors ahead at the Jalan Besar Stadium after just three minutes, it looked as though Quang Ninh were headed for victory after strikes by Patiyo Tambwe turned the game on its head.
But Home managed to level the scores courtesy of a Faris Ramli header shortly after the hour mark and, after the visitors were reduced to 10 men following the sending off of Mac Hong Quan, Song popped up late on with a stunning strike to win the tie.
After losing their opening tie to Yadanarbon, Tuesday's match had certainly been shaped as a must-win game for Home, especially given the new format of this year's AFC Cup only guarantees the group winners a spot in the knockout round.
They certainly could not have asked for a better start as they were gifted the lead inside the opening three minutes.
There appeared to be no apparent danger when Stipe Plazibat dinked a pass to the edge of the box but, having appeared to lose his bearings, Quang Ninh defender Duong Van Khoa carelessly deflected the ball to Song, who ruthlessly seized upon the opening to finish into the bottom corner.
Buoyed by taking the lead, Home enjoyed the better of the proceedings in the opening exchanges but, gradually, the visitors managed to force their way into the contest.
They issued their first warning in the 20th minute when a vicious drive by Geoffrey Kizito forced Hassan Sunny into action, and, two minutes after the half-hour mark, they capitalised on their next real opening.
Receiving possession on the right, Nghiam Xuan Tu whipped in a delicious cross to the back post, where it was met by Tambwe with a bullet header past Hassan.
Five minutes before the break, the deficit was overturned through another clinical foray forward by Quang Ninh; Minh Tuan being picked out on the left-side of the box before gliding past his marker and finishing into the back of the net.
To their credit, Home came out for the second half with a renewed sense of determination and Faris came close in the 47th minute but was denied from close range by Huynh Tuan Linh.
Nonetheless, there was to be no denying the Singapore international 11 minutes later when a brilliant counterattack saw Khairul Nizam released down the right and float an inch-perfect cross for Faris to nod home.
The hosts were then unlucky not to edge ahead in the 61st minute when Song's left-footed scorcher was tipped onto the bar by Tuan Linh.
A minute later, it was Quang Ninh's turn to be denied by the woodwork when Hong Quan's curling effort from the edge of the box clipped the underside of the bar and bounced back out.
At this stage, it was anyone's game but, in the 76th minute, the balance was tipped in Home's favour when their opponents were reduced to ten men as Hong Quan was shown a second yellow following a cynical trip.
With a numerical advantage, the Protectors did create their fair share of chances but it appeared that they would not be able to capitalise.
First, Abdil Qaiyyim climbed high inside the area to meet an Izzdin Shafiq free kick but could only nod straight at Tuan Linh, before substitute Marijan Suto spurned a glorious chance when he sent a free header crashing back off the bar after being found inside the box by Song.
But, with six minutes remaining, it was Song who emerged as Home's hero, latching onto a half-clearance outside the area and unleashing a rocket of a left-footed volley into the top corner to help his side claim maximum points.
Visibly pleased at the resolve his charges displayed, Home coach Aidil Sharin said: "You could see that the boys really wanted it.
"We didn't play well after taking the lead and the opponents got their two goals because we sat back, so I reminded the boys that we couldn't afford to lose this home game.
"With their team spirit, they really gave it everything until the final whistle and credit has to go to the players.
"I believe that, after this win, the boys understand the group is very open now and, if we win our next two games, top spot will be ours."
Meanwhile, Quang Ninh coach Phan Thanh Hung lamented: "We had a chance to win but we made some defensive mistakes and had a red card.
"If you ask me, I think the second yellow [for Hong Quan] was not fair, but congratulations to Home United.
"There are still two games to play for each team so anything can happen."
Home United: Hassan Sunny, Juma'at Jantan, Abdil Qaiyyim, Irfan Fandi, Sirina Camara, Adam Swandi (Marijan Suto 46'), Song Ui-young, Izzdin Shafiq, Faris Ramli (Amiruldin Asraf 90'), Stipe Plazibat, Khairul Nizam (Shamil Sharif 82').
Than Quang Ninh: Huynh Tuan Linh, Trinh Hoa Hung (Ngo Duc Thang 75'), Duong Thanh Hoa, Nguyen Minh Tung, Duong Van Khoa, Geoffrey Kizito, Pham Nguyen Sa, Mac Hong Quan, Nghiem Xuan Tu, Vu Minh Tuan (Giang Tran Quach Tan 86'), Patiyo Tambwe (Jardel Capistrano 78').