Melbourne Victory have rescued a point in dramatic fashion, after they came back from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Central Coast Mariners.
Harry Ashcroft opened the scoring from a corner on 13 minutes before Josh Bingham fired in an expertly taken shot on the half-hour mark to double their advantage.
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Five minutes later and Central Coast was in dreamland when Mitch Austin was released one-on-one with Victory goalkeeper Danny Vukovic and he finished with aplomb.
In the second half Victory turned the screw and got their just rewards through a Besart Berisha penalty on 60 minutes and Archie Thompson six minutes later after a well worked goal.
It seemed as if the reigning champions would fail to find an equaliser, but Victory’s talisman Berisha rose high and planted a header home to restore pride and take a share of the spoils deep into stoppage time.
Despite the result Victory have collected just five points from a possible 18, with their top two hopes hanging in the balance.
Here is some of the best reactions from Twitter:
Excellent counter-attacking, combinations, chances, mistakes, aggression, 6 goals, & 0 headbutts. Great game. #CCMvMVC
— Ned Zelic (@NedZelic) January 8, 2016
Surely Mahazi’s last game for #MVFC I could name 25 @nplvictoria players who would offer more in 90mins than he has in 2 years. #CCMvMVC
— Rory Flanagan (@Rory_Flanagan) January 8, 2016
Super effort from @CCMariners tonight. Deserved every bit of the point a long way from home. #GameOfTwoHalves #CCMvMVC
— Erin Morrow (@Erin_Mariner) January 8, 2016
Looking forward to everyone having a go at us for celebrating that point. Hypocrisy thy name etc etc. #CCMvMVC
— Tom Bell (@TomRBlike) January 8, 2016
Bloody conflicted, massive fight back but a game we should have won. Far too sloppy in the first. #CCMvMVC #mvfc
— Katie Lambeski (@katielambeski) January 8, 2016
Brilliant night #CCMvMVC @ALeague pic.twitter.com/ckljJpImrT
— Andrew Collins (@AndyCollinsSP) January 8, 2016
Must be a strange feeling for both sides – Victory comeback like a win, Mariners collapse a loss, but who’s happier with the point? #CCMvMVC
— Justin Civitillo (@JC_Kazama) January 8, 2016
FT, 3-3. That was a very weird game of football. Completely changed after Božanić sub. #CCMvMVC
— Ante Jukić (@a_jukic) January 8, 2016
ARCHIE THOMPSON HAS TO START NEXT GAME!!!!! so much more mobility in the 10 role! breaks line. gets berisha and kosta involved! #CCMvMVC
— juventino10 (@deano_futbol22) January 8, 2016
Credit to Victory for that second half come back. Can’t write them off at all #CCMvMVC
— Suburban Terror Grub (@xic8520) January 8, 2016
CCM showed a lack of composure and sheer stupidity in the last 10mins,sorry but coach has to wear this #CCMvMVC
— Paulo Miguel (@paulmiguel6) January 8, 2016
#CCMvMVC @gomvfc Broxham must play in the middle of the park no matter what. Game changed our way when he moved into midfield.
— Michael Bovalino (@Bova_1974) January 8, 2016
Im sure Tom Howard-Belle will be quality in the future +10kgs, but indecisiveness coming for the ball has killed the @CCMariners #CCMvMVC
— Mikel Breckenridge (@breckie19) January 8, 2016
1st half: putrid, pathetic & made me angry. 2nd half: played with passion & heart & could’ve even won made me proud #CCMvMVC #MixedEmotions
— Alex Kocovski (@alekoisawesome) January 8, 2016
.@CCMariners had 30% possession & still came away with draw. @gomvfc must be disappointed with that. #CCMvMVC
— Darren Snyder (@InSnyder) January 8, 2016
We aren’t anywhere near our form last season long way to go but confident we can turn it around #CCMvMVC #mvfc
— Mitchell Clark (@Mitchclark18) January 8, 2016
Maybe Kardinia Park has a wicked downhill from left to right. All 6 goals at the same end. #CCMvMVC
— Andrew Prentice (@apaway501) January 8, 2016
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