Hartlepool grabbed an opening-day win with a tremendous second-half fight back that posted notice they could be a threat near the top of the table again this season.
After falling behind early in the second half, they showed Colin Todd's fancied Bantams what it takes to win games at this level as they hit peak attacking form in the game's last quarter.
The first half was goalless, but there were plenty of chances, Michael Symes heading over the home bar from a corner in just the fourth minute.
At the other end Adam Boyd cut inside from the right and forced a good save out of Ross Turnbull at the foot of the near post.
As Bradford hit a purple patch midway through the half, Nicky Summerbee went close with a 25-yard shot, and Dean Windass also skimmed the post with a long-range free-kick before turning well close in, only to shoot straight at Jim Provett.
But Pool came back and a curling free-kick from Hugh Robertson was heading for the top corner before Turnbull produced a super save to tip it away.
Nine minutes after the break, it was Windass who grabbed the breakthrough, bursting through on the right and cutting inside before scoring with a great low shot that sneaked inside the far post.
But if City thought they were coasting, they got it wrong as Hartlepool found the spirit that took them to last season's play-offs and on 74 minutes the home team were level.
Steven Schumacher fouled Adam Boyd on the edge of the area and Boyd picked himself up to stroke his penalty into the bottom corner.
And six minutes later the home team grabbed the lead when Robertson's latest free-kick bomb, this time from 30 yards, bounced wickedly in front of Turnbull and went over his shoulder into the net.
Bradford threw everything forward in a desperate finish, and thought they'd done the trick in the last minute when sub Ben Muirhead found himself in front of goal with the ball at his feet only three yards out, but home keeper Provett came from nowhere to make a brilliant save.