But football can be a cruel game, and a 2-0 lead evaporated in Napier as Hawkes Bay scored three goals to continue its long unbeaten streak at home against the southerners.
Southern started the stronger of the two teams and was rewarded for its attacking intent in the 10th minute.
New striker Henrique Viana showed some strength and skill in the box, and when he slid a ball across the goal, Daniel Morris was on hand to smash it into the net.
It got even better for Southern 16 minutes later, when the lead was doubled. Hawkes Bay failed to clear, an Aajay Cunningham free kick found Campbell Higgins, and Higgins nodded over advancing keeper Matt Gould.
At 2-0, Southern was in control on the scoreboard, but Hawkes Bay started to assert its dominance on the game.
The home side pulled a goal back before halftime, when former All White David Mulligan sent in a free kick and Thomas Mosquera headed in a goal.
Mosquera levelled the scores in the 68th minute with a magnificent strike, drilling the ball into the corner of the net.
Southern hearts sank further when, with 10 minutes to play, Sean Lovemore completed the Hawkes Bay comeback with the winning goal, a crisp finish past keeper Jefferson Potrich.
Sam Mepham, Taylor McCormack, Geordie Mansford and Cam Higgins all picked up yellow cards for Southern.
Coach Luiz Uehara is confident his new-look Southern side is making progress.
''I'm very disappointed with the result but we have made huge progression from three weeks ago and I am very proud of my team,'' Uehara told the ASB Premiership website.
Southern United will continue to search for its first points of the season when it heads to the capital to play Wellington on Sunday.
Hawke's Bay coach Chris Greatholder was philosophical in victory.
''It was a strange game for us. We were very naive in the first 20 minutes and we need to be better if we want to achieve anything this season.
''For long periods of the match there was only one team in it and for us we had an inner belief that we could come back from the early deficit.''
ASB premiership
The scores
Hawkes Bay United 3
Thomas Mosquera 2, Sean Lovemore
Southern United 2
Daniel Morris, Campbell Higgins
Halftime: Southern 2-1.
