Perth Glory have come from two goals and a man down to claim a remarkable 2-2 draw against Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium and snap the club’s three-match losing streak.
When Victory established a 2-0 lead on 58 minutes after two goals in the space of five minutes, one a penalty from Carlos Hernandez and the other a tap-in from Danny Allsopp, Perth, who had Liam Miller sent off on 37 minutes, looked destined for defeat.
But spurred by a brilliant set-piece goal from substitute Andrezinho, Glory surged late and were rewarded with a point when Todd Howarth picked out Shane Smeltz on 87 minutes and the striker levelled the scores.
It was a result of true character for the previously out of luck and out-of-form Glory, who could have won it in injury time when Smeltz miscued an excellent chance
Melbourne have now drawn all four of their home games this season and will feel they let a great opportunity slip, despite stretching their unbeaten streak to five ahead of next week’s home clash against bottom-of-the-league Gold Coast United.
Perth go to unbeaten Brisbane Roar without key playmaker Miller but with their confidence high after such a tough performance on a ground which they have never won.
Perth began the game much the better side and created most of the chances inside the first half an hour. Chris Coyne and Billy Mehmet both went over the bar before Adam Hughes went close when he headed it onto the woodwork on 15 minutes.
Melbourne’s best opportunities came through Hernandez via the dead ball, with the Costa Rican putting his first chance on seven minutes just wide and then flashing another shot on 39 minutes past the post.
The free kick came after the point of greatest significance of the half. Hernandez put Archie Thompson clear down the right and he wrong-footed Josh Risdon and then prompted a rash challenge from Miller.
Referee Chris Beath ruled Miller as the last defender, pulling the red card out and Glory were left with 10 men for the last hour.
With that the game changed tempo as Victory looked more assured with the ball, and on 43 minutes Fabio conjured the only shot on target from either side for the half, which Danny Vukovic dealt with comfortably.
Melbourne swung Rojas on for Kemp at half time, while seeking to restructure after Miller’s dismissal, Mile Sterjovski came off for Steven McGarry.
But five minutes in, the game took another dramatic downturn for Perth when another long Hernandez ball saw Thompson clear and into the box. Bas Van den Brink’s tackle was ruled as a foul and Chris Beath pointed to the spot, although he did not give the Dutchman a card.
That was scant relief for Glory who watched on as Hernandez netted the spot kick on 53 minutes.
On 58 minutes, Victory look to have sealed the points when Hernandez’s corner was met by Rody Vargas. The ball fell to Allsopp, who turned and fired from a metre out for his first Hyundai A-League goal since January.
However, Perth would pull one back in somewhat remarkable circumstances 12 minutes later after Billy Celeski conceded a foul and was booked with the ball about 25 metres out.
Andrezinho, who had come on for Mehmet less than a minute earlier, stepped up and slotted the ball into the top corner with Ante Covic getting a despairing hand onto it.
Perth had a penalty shout, while Leigh Broxham threw himself on a goal-bound shot, but the Glory kept on coming.
In the 87th minute Howarth was given ample space down the left to slot the ball to Smeltz, who powered home the header.
Then in injury time, the record-breaking striker could have snatched a win, with Van den Brink putting an inviting cross over only for him to strike it well wide.
Melbourne Victory 2 (Hernandez 53p, Allsopp 58)
Perth Glory 2 (Andrezinho 71, Smeltz 87)
Crowd: 18,404 at Etihad Stadium
