Round 24 of the Isuzu UTE A-League season kicked off with a bang, with two dramatic games on the Friday-night agenda.
The action got underway with a clash between second-placed Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory in third, with a 95th-minute winner to the ‘Nix sealing a dramatic win.
ROUND 24 PREVIEW: Sydney Derby takes centre stage as clubs scramble to cover key absentees
Then, Nestory Irankunda bagged a stunning strike to put Adelaide United ahead of Macarthur FC before a stirring comeback from the Bulls – despite a second-half red card to the away side.
Re-live all the action below.
MATCHDAY AGENDA
Wellington Phoenix 1-0 Melbourne Victory – Sky Stadium
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Wellington Phoenix are guaranteed a top-two finish in the Isuzu UTE A-League for the first time in club history, after a 95th-minute winner sealed a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory which sent the New Zealand outfit back to the top of the table.
A late, late free-kick for the ‘Nix came off the head of Phoenix defender Finn Surman and took a touch off Victory’s Roderick Miranda on the way into the back of the net as Sky Stadium erupted; the dramatic winner confirmed Wellington will finish the season in the top two, and a direct route to the Semi-Finals.
FULL MATCH REPORT: ‘Delirium’ in Wellington as 95th-minute winner confirms ‘scarcely believable’ reality for ‘Nix
Adelaide United 1-2 Macarthur FC – Coopers Stadium
A Nestory Irankunda stunner wasn’t enough for Adelaide United as the Reds threw away a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 to 10-man Macarthur FC at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
Adelaide led through Irankunda’s latest highlight-reel strike and a second-half red card to Macarthur defender Yianni Nicolau put the hosts in the box seat to take three points – but Ariath Piol and Walter Scott both struck against the run of play within four minutes to give the away side a shock 2-1 lead.
But there was more drama to come at Coopers Stadium as referee Ben Abraham gave a stoppage-time penalty to the hosts after a VAR check; with first-choice penalty taker Zach Clough no longer on the pitch, Irankunda put penalty-taking duties on his shoulders but was thwarted from the spot by Filip Kurto as the Bulls escaped with all three points.
FULL MATCH REPORT: Ten-man Bulls spoil Irankunda’s farewell party in shock comeback after second-half send-off
