North Queensland Fury pulled back an early deficit to defeat the Newcastle Jets 2-1 at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Jets' Matthew Thompson opened the scoring in the 18th minute before the Fury's Chris Grossman levelled the scores in the 38th minute.
Chris Tadrosse latched on to a curling long ball from Terry Cooke and volleyed the ball into the net in the 79th minute to keep the homeside's final aspirations alive albeit mathematically.
It was a night of scarce opportunites with the odd window allowing both sides to register on the scoreboard.
Newcastle had an early opportunity when it was awarded a free kick on the edge of the box for a wild tackle but the shot failed to clear the wall.
Thompson refused to make the same mistake, pouncing on the ball after a poor corner clearance and with his back to the goal pivoted to shoot over defenders and into the net.
North Queensland could have easily fallen behind minutes later but goalkeeper Justin Pasfield pulled of a magnificent one-on-one save to stop Jobe Wheelhouse on the break
Grossman was gifted a shot when Dyron Daal chested down a high long ball and into his path allowing him to drive it into the net.
The Fury suffered a blow when they returned after half time with Daal failing to take the field due to a hamstring injury and replaced by Terry Cooke.
David Williams rampaged through the middle with an inspiring run but a delayed pass to a man out wide with defenders falling away cost his side a shot at goal.
The Jets had a similar opportunity minutes later when Jin-Hyung Song dribbled past several defenders but was stopped just short of the 18-yard box.
Tadrosse then latched on to a curling long ball from Cooke, plundering it into the net past a defenceless goalkeeper.
North Queensland Fury (Grossman 38, Tadrosse 79)
Newcastle United (Thompson 18)
Crowd 4,156 at Dairy Farmers Stadium