Exeter City recorded their first win of the pre-season as Danny Coles headed home a late winner to give them a 2-1 win over Tupi in Brazil.
The Brazilian Serie C side took the lead in the match when Maranhão fired home early in the second half.
However. Jimmy Keohane coolly levelled after bright work from Ollie Watkins – and then Coles grabbed the winner in injury time from Matt Oakley's corner.
City started the game well Jimmy Keohane and Tom Nichols staying close together and linking up very cleverly several times, including with a cheeky Brazilian style backheel.
Up against a giant of a defender in Helder, Nichols was proving a handful and taking the honours in the physical contest. City faltered slightly when having to replace Moore-Taylor with a foot injury. Butterfield dropped into the middle of the defence, Keohane played more withdrawn and Jay came on to partner Nichols. Despite this, Christy Pym only really had a few regulation saves to make as half-time was reached with the score still 0-0.
Tupi made a raft of changes for the second half and it looked to have pepped them up, pushing on early and earning a free-kick 25 yards out, which Chico curled around the wall. Pym was on his toes however and tipped the shot away for a corner.
But City settled and the balance of the first half was again restored once Pym had dealt competently with a screamer from Alvaro that moved but was essentially straight at him.
City's substitutions on 58 minutes saw Arron Davies, Aaron Dawson, Matt Grimes and Matt Jay replaced by David Wheeler, Liam Sercombe, Ollie Watkins and Matt Oakley – and Sercombe became the first City player to get a shot on target shortly after.
This minor joy was short lived when Tupi's Ewerthon Maradona sent a free kick into the box which got stuck between a cluster of legs and the home side's Maranhão prodded the ball in.
After the setback, City changed formation again to a more positive style when Jordan Tillson and Pat Baldwin replaced Woodman and Nichols, allowing Scot Bennett to move up front and Watkins and Wheeler to push further forward on the flanks.
City pressure on Tupi increased as time progressed and it finally told on 83 minutes when Ollie Watkins' superb run past his marker and intelligently-placed cross was firmly side footed home by Keohane for the equaliser.
Now with their tails up City continued to push their opponents back and when Oakley worked a short corner with Watkins deep in injury time, his perfect cross was headed home by Coles for the winner.
On the final whistle shortly afterwards, travelling Grecians were able to celebrate a fine performance and a 2-1 victory that was well deserved for patience, character and no little skill.
Tupi: Rodrigo Viana, Marcelinho, Wesley Ladeira, Toledo, Filipe Alves, Helder Maciel, Maguinho, Gustavo, Oliveira, Dieguinho, Chico.
Subs: Gonçalves, Rafael Victor, Bruno Barros, Henrique, Fabrício Soares, Genalvo, Migue, Alvaro, Ewerton Maradona, Elder Santana, Maranhão, Lee, Neguete.
Exeter City: Pym, Butterfield, Woodman (Baldwin 68), Bennett, Coles, Grimes (Oakley 58), Keohane, Davies (Watkins 58), Moore Taylor (Jay 20 (Wheeler 58)), Dawson (Sercombe 58), Nichols (Tillson 68).
