A 94th minute winner from Hiroshi Ibusuki saw Western United come from behind at the death to defeat Melbourne Victory 4-3 in a scintillating Friday night clash at AAMI Park.
After what was an energetic opening to the game it was Victory who broke the deadlock after just nine minutes; defender Brendan Hamill beating keeper Matt Sutton at his near post with a low drive.
Western weren’t behind for long though as Hiroshi Ibusuki bagged his sixth goal of the season in the 17th minute, beating Victory keeper Jack Duncan from close range.
Victory then re-took the lead in the 39th minute following a devastating counter-attack as Bruno Fornaroli converted from close range after he and Daniel Arzani broke clear from a Western United corner.
The away side levelled things up in the 69th minute as Abel Walatee finished off an outstanding counter-attack from Western United, side-footing home his 2nd goal of the season to make it 2-2.
Arthur Diles’ team responded well to going behind though and went in front courtesy of a first Isuzu UTE A-League goal from Brazilian Clarismario Santos, who finished off an excellent team move just four minutes after coming on.
Trailing at the 90-minute mark, Western then thought they’d done enough to salvage a point thanks to a sharp header from Noah Botic in the 91st minute which made it 3-3 but things would soon get even better.
With less than a minute of stoppage time to go, Western sub Riku Danzaki’s low ball into the box was poked home by Ibusuki as Western snatched all three points with virtually the last kick of the game.
The result means Western United move up to fourth on the ladder and just two points off ladder-leaders Auckland FC.
As for Melbourne Victory, head coach Arthur Diles continues to wait for his first win in charge of the club and they now sit two points below Western in fifth place.
With Socceroo Jason Geria playing his last game for the club before heading to Japan, Victory started brightly and took the lead in the 9th minute through centre back Hamill.
Still forward from a corner kick, the defender then transformed into a centre forward; timing his run beyond the Western defence to perfection before slamming home a shot which squeezed past keeper Sutton at his near post.
Sensing a nervousness amongst their opponents, Victory then fashioned another good chance but Arzani blazed his shot high and wide just two minutes later.
Rhys Bozinovski then saw a goal-bound effort deflected over the bar as Western began to work their way back into the contest and less than 10-minutes after going behind they were level.
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Galavanting down the right, Western captain Ben Garuccio played a pinpoint pass across the face of goal and there was Ibusuki to tap home from close range after running across his marker at the near post.
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Victory then had a glorious chance to re-take the lead in the 37th minute; Zinedine Machach’s clever reverse pass put Arzani through on goal but the winger couldn’t beat Sutton when one-on-one, much to the frustration of Fornaroli who wanted the ball squared.
But if the Socceroos striker was frustrated at not receiving the square pass that time then he didn’t have to wait too long before he did.
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Breaking away from a Western corner, Fornaroli charged over halfway with Arzani in support and when the wide man then beat Tate Russell inside the box the veteran striker was on hand and unmarked to tap home Arzani’s square pass to make it 2-1 before the break.
Shortly after the break Victory keeper Duncan then pulled off an outstanding save to keep it at 2-1, getting down low to somehow prevent Western winger Luke Vickery’s deflected shot from inside the box.
Reno Piscopo then thought he’d made it 3-1 to the hosts however his well-taken finish at the far post was ruled out after Fornaroli was judged to have fouled Tomoki Imai in the build-up.
With former Socceroos goalkeeper Mitch Langerak watching on from the stands having recently re-joined the club, Duncan then made another outstanding save, this time showcasing his excellent reactions by tipping a powerful Ibusuki header on to the bar.
Western soon bagged the equaliser though and it came as a result of a stunning counter-attack of their own.
Winning the ball back on the edge of their own box John Aloisi’s side turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye; stringing together a series of rapid-fire passes as they worked their way up the field before Vickery then squared the ball for Walatee who converted in style.
Victory responded well to the equaliser though and it wasn’t long before they re-took the lead once again in this topsy-turvy clash.
Sent on by head coach Arthur Diles, Brazilian import Santos needed just two touches to make an impact; the first saw him control Machah’s ball inside the box and the second then saw him steer his shot beyond the on-rushing Sutton to make it 3-2 to Victory.
The outstanding Duncan then pronounced another brilliant save, this time diving away to his right to palm away Ibusuki’s thunderous header to keep his side in front but it would all prove to be in vain.
Peeling away at the front post, young striker Botic steered an excellent header across Duncan and into the far corner to make it 3-3 in the first minute of five minutes of stoppage time before the Western away bay was then sent into ecstasy.
Seizing the ball on the right hand side, substitute Danzaki sent a fizzing low ball into the box which was poked into the corner by Ibusuki to silence the home crowd as Western snatched an incredible win with just seconds left on the clock.
