Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Western United have come from behind three times and scored two stoppage time goals to pinch a stunning 4-3 win over Melbourne Victory in a classic A-League Men derby at AAMI Park.
Seven days after Jordan Lauton’s spectacular goal gave United an epic win over Glory in Perth, John Aloisi’s team cemented themselves as the comeback kings of the league on Friday night.
Japanese striker Hiroshi Ibusuki was the match-winner, slotting his second goal of the night in the 94th minute to break the 3-3 deadlock and silence the parochial Victory crowd.
“If it was the first time we did it, we’ll say maybe it was a little bit of luck, but it’s not the first time this season that we’ve done that,” Aloisi said.
“It’s the belief that the boys have, and to keep going. They show such resilience, such character.
“We had a big schedule, four games in 12 days, but we were outstanding in that second half.”
It was a brutal way for Socceroo Jason Geria to end his time at Victory, with the defender on the move to Japanese second division club Albirex Niigata.
“He’s everything this club’s about,” interim Victory coach Arthur Diles said of Geria.
“He’s someone that’s a special human being and a big character of this club and the league.
“I’m devastated for him tonight that we don’t send him out a winner in his final match at Melbourne Victory.”
Victory surrendered a one-goal advantage in both halves, and then in the 91th minute through a stunning header from United’s Noah Botic.
In a nod to Lauton after he celebrated his matchwinner against Perth by pulling off his shirt and earning himself a one-game suspension, Botic also showed off some skin and was given a yellow card.
Botic celebrated hard before a section of Victory supporters, who were further devastated when Ibusuki – who’d equalised 1-1 in the 17th minute – netted a second, match-winning goal three minutes later.
It was a fifth-straight winless appearance for Victory, who last took all three points on December 8 against lowly Perth.
Diles took over as interim Victory boss after Patrick Kisnorbo shocked the club by taking up an assistant coaching job in Japan on December 17, only days before their derby against Melbourne City.
Veteran Victory striker Bruno Fornaroli scored for the first time since returning to the starting line-up, tapping in a nice pass from Daniel Arzani in the 39th minute.
It came after centre back Brendan Hamill opened the scoring with a superb hit when Victory started hot.
Victory consistently broke through United’s defence in the first half while creating far more chances, and should have been further in front than 2-1 at the break.
United emerged after halftime an inspired unit with Abel Walatee equalising in the 69th minute.
Victory could have gone up 3-1, but a goal was disallowed in the 59th minute after Fornaroli was deemed to have pulled Tate Russell’s shirt.
Brazilian attacker Santos looked to have found the winner in the 79th minute, celebrating his first goal for Victory with a backflip just three minutes after coming off the bench to replace Arzani, before United rebounded.
