AN UNDERSTRENGTH Capalaba FC have survived a scare before making a winning start to their FFA Cup campaign on Tuesday night.
A younger Bulldogs line-up were behind for the best part of an hour against Tarragindi Tigers in the round four match-up before firing four goals in under 10 minutes to claim an emphatic 4-1 win at Esher Street.
Four players shared in the spoils for the Bulldogs as wide men Russell Parker and Matt Gordon netted their first goals of the season to put their side ahead either side of the 70th minute.
Striker Alistair Davis doubled the lead with his second goal of the season shortly after, before Tarig Hammad quickly wrapped it up with his third goal of the year.
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Sitting six league tiers higher than their opponents, the Bulldogs were a goal down at half-time after conceding Nathan Coburn's surprise 10th minute opener.
However, savvy second half substitutions - and the send-off of Tigers' Cam McAndrew - combined to deliver the Bulldogs their second straight win in all competitions.
David McEvoy's side will face either Mitchelton FC or Surfers Paradise Apollo in the next round of the national knock-out competition, but next turn their attention to their National Premier Leagues clash with Brisbane Roar Youth this weekend.
In the NPL women's competition, the result was less favourable as the Bulldogs women lost 3-2 to competition newcomers Virginia United at Max Haynes Field.
In an end-to-end contest, the Bulldogs pegged back the visitors in each half through goals to Steph Latham and former Matilda Brooke Spence, but fell to their first defeat of the year in the 83rd minute to Stefanie Mayhew's winner for Virginia.
The Bulldogs women next travel to Richlands to tackle defending Champions Lions FC on Saturday.
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