It wasn’t supposed to end this way.

With Ottawa up 2-1 in the 80th minute off a great goal by midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Ottawa Fury FC was called for a foul in the box, the San Antonio Scorpions scored on the penalty kick and everything unravelled.

These were three big points, with Ottawa just that many behind the Scorpions for fourth spot on the NASL table. The way the Fury fought in much of the match, even a draw wouldn’t have been bad in the end.

Instead, Tomasz Zahorski scored in the 94th minute, heading home the ball and sending the 2,400-plus fans at Keith Harris Stadium home in disbelief. The same crowd that rose to their feet when Tony Donatelli tied the game at one off a penalty kick of his own before Ubiparipovic game the Fury the lead late. Zahorski’s goal followed a blast on the penalty kick by striker Eric Hassli

Following the game, goalkeeper Devala Gorrick ­— who made a couple big saves and couldn’t be faulted on the goals against —­ stood on the pitch, shocked, staring at the net where the winner was scored. Ubiparipovic even apologized to the fans during his on-field, post-game interview and reiterated that to the media.

“I think it’s all sinking in right now,” said the midfielder, who had a strong game to go with his goal. “I feel bad for my teammates and the staff and the fans who came to support us.”

The fans were having none of the apology, rising to their feet in applause as the team left the pitch. Still, it’s cold comfort for a team that was so close to catching up to a playoff position.

“Wins don’t come easy, simple as that,” he said. “Conceding a goal a few minutes after we score, it just keeps happening and sooner or later we’re going to have to learn, because we’re going to have a higher mountain to climb.”

Head coach Marc Dos Santos wasn’t sure where it all fell apart, either, and said he wanted to watch the game tape before analyzing specifics. But he is not impressed with the team giving up a stoppage time winner at home for the second time this season.

“When it happens once, it’s one thing, it’s lucky maybe,” he said. “Now it’s the second time and it’s not good. Maybe we lack experience in moments like that.”

After the first half, it didn’t seem like anyone would be putting the ball in the net Saturday. Ottawa controlled the play for much of the first 45 minutes, but failed to get a shot on target and the teams went into the intermission in a scoreless draw.

Ottawa came back with similar jump in the second half, but San Antonio quieted the crowd when Julius James expertly headed home a corner kick to put the Scorpions up by one in the 57th minute.

Ubiparipovic said his team’s play until the final minutes made the loss particularly difficult to swallow.

“We performed decently and we deserved more out of this game,” he said.

Ottawa will host FC Edmonton next Saturday at Carleton before wrapping up the spring season June 8.

GAME NOTES

Donatelli’s goal ties him for the league lead with four ... His penalty kick score was the first goal off a PK in the Fury’s history... Each team finished with three shots on target, while San Antonio had a 52-48 % in possession. ... Andres Fresenga drew back into the lineup with Omar Jarun on international duty with the Palestinian team.

Twitter: @chrishofley

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