Alvin Ceccoli, NSL and A-League winner, had limped off.
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Van Elia, the lethal Kiwi goalscorer, lay prone in the attacking box for minutes on end as the clock ticked down.
Coach Rob Jonovski led the protests about the need to hold the game up, before eventually Elia came off, clutching his shoulder.
Tick, tock.
Wollongong Olympic's hopes were evaporating.
Then the whistle blew.
And in that moment, having conceded a goal in the first minute of play, 46 years of misery washed away for Corrimal.
In Manchester, City wound back the clock in 2012, from 44 years to zero to celebrate a new era of English Premier League success.
On Sunday at WIN Stadium, Corrimal celebrated a 46 years championship drought with a 2-1 win over IPL premiers Wollongong Olympic.
Corrimal had won the Illawarra double in 1973 and made the grand final in 1974, though they'd amalgamated with Russell Vale to win the IPL crown in 1999.
But the wait looked like it would continue when goalkeeper Nick Loe made an uncharacteristic error at the back, allowing Olympic to lead in the first minute.
At the end, fans descended, including a playful sign declaring Jonovski now held his place above Champions League-winning Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and City's EPL boss Pep Guardiola.
"Overall we were outstanding today mate," Jonovski said.
"We gifted them a goal in the first minute of the game, but the way we showed character and turned it around.
"Nicky Low, he's been outstanding for us this year, so that was justified for him. He put his hand up and the way he turned it around, I was very pleased for the boys."
Paul Guido, who didn't have a place in the team in the lead-up to finals, found the equaliser on 26 minutes, with a blistering shot from a throw-in, before Elia was handed a penalty in the 37th minute to put Corrimal in front.
The game opened up in the second half, as Olympic launched long balls into the 18-yard box, while Corrimal's slick passing tried to catch their rivals out, Elia have a one-on-one denied by Hayden Durose.
Having claimed the IPL premiership by eight points, and 10 ahead of Corrimal, Olympic ran out of time. Earlier, Tarrawanna beat Wollongong United in the under 23s, while Bulli beat United 4-3 penalties after the game finished at 4-all in the Youth League.
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