Midfielder Carl Recchia nodded home a 91st minute equaliser before more than 30 fans entered the playing arena, forcing the referee to bring an end to proceedings.

In a disappointing performance from the home team, a 41st minute strike from Berger's striker Hamid Basma looked as though it would be pivotal until Recchia's late goal.

Both teams struggled to settle in Melbourne's windy conditions early in the contest.

Heidelberg had the better of the early exchanges with left-sided winger Yanni Galanos putting a number of crosses into the area.

But South created the best early chance thanks to debutant Joseph Keenan.

Keenan put through midfielder Daniel Vasilevski with a fine through pass but a fine save by Steve Tilovski turned his shot around the post.

Winger Galanos gave the South defence a warning sign when he forced Peter Zois to parry his long-range shot after 19 minutes.

The home side should have been ahead after half an hour.

Speedy winger Marino Gasparis provided a fine cut back for Vasilevski but the dangerous midfielder could only manage to shoot well over the bar.

Moments later, lone striker Gianni De Nittis was through on goal after a failed attempt at an offside trap by the United defence.

But he failed to beat Tilovski, shooting low into the arms of the diving keeper.

Heidelberg settled and had its best chance after 38 minutes.

A long cross resulted in a scramble inside the area and fell to dangerous striker Osagie Ederaro, but his shot from six yards failed to hit the target.

Less than four minutes later and the visitors were ahead.

Former Melbourne Knights player Craig Elvin hit a speculative long range shot from 25 yards and Zois again parried it in the difficult conditions.

But United striker Hamid Basma, quiet until this point, was first to the rebound and he calmly slotted to give his side a 1-0 lead after 41 minutes.

Ederaro almost doubled the lead after the interval but Zois denied him under heavy pressure from the South defence.

The introduction of Fernando De Moraes after an hour gave the home side more inventiveness in the attacking third.

He cut inside the area from the left after 67 minutes but his powerful drive went over the bar.

The frustration of the home crowd continued to grow and Recchia did little to help the cause after 72 minutes.

Vasilevski played the ball into him just outside the area, but he too shot well over from 18 yards.

But the Bergers were being pinged back in their area in hope of holding on to the three points.

De Moraes put in a superb corner and Recchia, becoming increasingly dangerous in the front third, volleyed into the ground, allowing Tilovski to punch to safety.

Frustration hit its highest point when De Moraes was brought down inside the area, but his fall went unrewarded by the referee.

Yet, the home side would eventually find a way in.

De Moraes put in a long ball and the resulting scramble resulted in Recchia heading home the equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time.

As fans invaded the pitch and delayed the restart, the referee was forced to blow the final whistle, abandoning the game.