Melbourne Victory edged three points closer to league leaders Sydney after an incredible finale to the Melbourne derby when they came from a goal behind with just six minutes remaining to defeat Melbourne City 2-1.
Victory striker Besart Berisha first missed a penalty, then equalised, then was at the centre of high drama and controversy after an own goal by City defender Manny Muscat was first disallowed then given just minutes from time with the Sky Blues complaining that Dean Bouzanis, their keeper, had been impeded by Berisha who was in an offside position.
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Cahill bizarrely sent-off in controversial derby
Tim Cahill was handed a red card on the sideline as tensions boiled over following a controversial late own goal that gave Victory the spoils.
Then City's marquee man Tim Cahill, who had been on the bench all game, was sent off when he appeared ready to come on to help his side chase an equaliser for what appeared to be dissent.
It was an extraordinary climax to what had been a slow burner of a game that didn't really catch fire until Berisha missed a second-half spot kick after Marco Rojas was shoved over by Luke Brattan as the winger ran in on goal. But Berisha's aim from the penalty spot this season has been less than true – he missed against Sydney and Perth Glory – and he did so again this time, Bouzanis guessing correctly and going to his right to parry the spot kick to safety.
![Manny Muscat of Melbourne City scores an own goal to had a 2-1 win to Victory.](/web/20170205111456im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/5/n/q/o/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu5nk0.png/1486241202970.jpg)
Brattan then tried to make amends when he blasted over at the other end, but a few minutes later City had exacted the perfect response to take the lead.
Fernando Brandan went past Geria on the left and then played a delightful cross off the outside of his boot into the path of Neil Kilkenny. The midfielder hit it first time and got lucky when the ball took a big deflection off Baro to put City 1-0 up.
Troisi went close with a long-range free kick and it looked as though Victory woud lose to their rivals for the third time this season – until Berisha made up for his penalty miss with an equaliser six minutes from time, turning in Rojas' cross.
The Albanian was then central to an incredible winner a minute later when Muscat turned the ball into his own net as he tried to clear a cross with Berisha appearing to impede Bouzanis.
![Cop that: Besart Berisha enjoying himself.](/web/20170205111456im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/5/n/q/p/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gu5nk0.png/1486241202970.jpg)
The linesman flagged to disallow the goal, but referee Chris Beath overruled him as City raged in protest. Beath's decision ensured Victory's incredible recovery was complete.
Cahill then received a red card even though he was not on the pitch.
The Socceroo star had scored a wonder goal the first time these two teams met at this stadium in round two, but this time he was not included.
Victory almost took an early lead thanks to the invention of Oliver Bozanic after they were awarded a free kick in the centre of the park. The midfielder took it quickly and lofted a pass forward which Rojas took on the volley and tried to lob Bouzanis in the City goal.
Bouzanis scrambled to make up his ground and was a relieved man as the ball went over the bar.
City fans were howling for a penalty after 14 minutes when Jason Geria challenged the restored to the starting line up Fernando Brandan and seemed to run into him before the pair clashed heads, Fernando collapsing to the ground.
Beath waved away their appeals and at the other end Victory once again almost got their noses in front when a long ball from midfield found Fahid Ben Khalfallah in space on the left. The Tunisian winger looked poised to shoot, only for Ivan Franjic to make an excellent saving tackle to snuff out the danger.
City thought they had taken the lead when Bruno Fornaroli headed home from Neil Kilkenny's cross but the goal was ruled out for offside, although replays suggested there was nothing in it and the benefit of the doubt could have gone to the forward. That decision was only a precursor to the sense of injustice in which City finished this match, which leaves them anchored in fourth place and now nine points adrift of Victory.