A late goal from Brendon Santalab saw the points shared between Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers at Etihad Stadium.
The Victory took the lead early in the first half thanks to Besart Berisha, who headed Kosta Barbousses’ corner past Andrew Redmayne after evading his marker to get a free run to the near post.
The lighting of several flares did take the gloss off an entertaining first half, as did the quality of the pitch at Etihad Stadium. With several sections of the field covered in re-laid turf following the conclusion of the Big Bash, fans were understandably furious when both Mitch Nichols and Mathieu Delpierre had to receive treatment during the first half when their studs stuck in the playing surface.
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The second half saw the Wanderers press forward as they searched for an equaliser, and for most of the half Melbourne Victory seemed set to hold onto their slender lead and the three points.
However, Western Sydney’s super-sub Brendon Santalab made the difference off the bench once again, scoring an 89th-minute stunner to give his side a share of the points and send them back to the top of the table on goal difference.
Here are some of the best reactions from Twitter:
The difference between a marquee striker in the box, and your marquee striker in a corporate box #MVCvWSW
— Nick Arkoudis (@NickArkoudis) February 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/steph_ttaylor/status/695893173986398208
https://twitter.com/Garciroy/status/695890829278187520
Thanks @EtihadStadiumAU your dodgy ground work has potentially injured one of our best players, filthy #MVCvWSW
— Jarrad (@JarradHD) February 6, 2016
That hurts my ankle just looking at the replay. But hey, don't worry about players' safety, we can get more punters in at Etihad. #MVCvWSW
— Ante Jukić (@a_jukic) February 6, 2016
Boom. Title winning steel from Wanderers. 1-1. #MVCvWSW
— Alexander Wilson (@alexanderw_17) February 6, 2016
Wow, that's some goal from Santalab!! Pure determination. #MVCvWSW
— Frank (@Frank_theTank78) February 6, 2016
Well, @gomvfc not keeping that one out. Santalab gets deserved goal for @wswanderersfc. Cracker. #MVCvWSW
— Lance Jenkinson (@westsport) February 6, 2016
The least WSW deserve from this second half. Santalab just lethal off the bench. #MVCvWSW
— Matthew Galea (@mg91) February 6, 2016
Santalab's last three games have seen him score in the 88th, 89th and 89th minute #MVCvWSW
— Marissa Lordanic (@marissalordanic) February 6, 2016
NO WAY OMG SANTALAB HAS DONE IT AGAIN #MVCvWSW Great result for us #COYCB
— Will Purssey (@wpurssey10) February 6, 2016
Now that was a pulsating game. #MVCvWSW #topofthetable
— Brett (@ghostwhowanders) February 6, 2016
Cracker despite the ending. A goal was always going to come up the middle because those balls in were appalling all night #MVCvWSW
— Javid van der P. (@jvanderp) February 6, 2016
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