Melbourne City's dream of an A-League championship hangs by the slimmest of threads following an astonishing 5-4 loss in Perth on Sunday night.
Following Brisbane's equally astounding 4-3 victory over Wellington earlier in the day - when John Aloisi's team came back from a 3-1 half time deficit - Perth knew it needed to win this game by a wide margin to crash into the top four on the A-League table and condemn City to fifth place.
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What on earth was Reddy thinking?
The Perth goalkeeper attempted an inexplicable dribble outside his box, before losing possession halfway up his own half.
City simply needed a win to finish third, one spot ahead of Brisbane. A narrow loss would see them remain in fourth spot, and secure a home final.
The results mean Brisbane finish third, and now play sixth-placed Western Sydney on Friday night at Suncorp stadium in the first of two elimination finals.
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City will face Glory again next weekend in the second play-off on Sunday evening at AAMI Park.
The final-round clash at NIB stadium was an extraordinary, topsy turvey affair - where the merely freakish looked commonplace and the impossible a distinct likelihood. No wonder Glory striker Adam Taggart described it seconds after the final whistle as "absolutely mental".
Tim Cahill told Fox Sports: "I think it was a mess. We have to do better. We have come up short. We have some big lessons to learn."
It was Glory who got off to the perfect start when they were awarded a penalty inside the first five minutes after Adam Taggart was bundled over in the penalty area by Neil Kilkenny.
Glory's Spanish star Diego Castro slotted the spot kick past Dean Bouzanis to put his side in front.
Perth was in control, but City managed to stem the tide and get back on equal terms through - and it was Tim Cahill once again to the rescue for his Blues in the 21st minute.
The Socceroo veteran got on the end of a Bruce Kamau pass, and struck the ball beautifully with his left foot to give Liam Reddy no chance.
The second half began as the first had ended, at a quick tempo with City looking to take the initiative.
We do it all again next Sunday night at 7pm as we take on Perth in the Elimination Final.
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) April 16, 2017
Ticketing info ➡ https://t.co/bF2y8pN3Dx pic.twitter.com/Ctso2MFPQL
But when the next goal came it was Perth fans who were celebrating courtesy of an Andy Keogh strike.
The Irishman made space for himself after controlling a Diego Castro through ball, and fired past Bouzanis to make it 2-1, giving Glory supporters the tiniest of hopes that they might post the victory that would give them a home final.
City's Bruno Fornaroli was desperately unlucky not to square things up again three minutes later when he worked his way clear on the edge of the Glory penalty area and curled in a shot which beat Liam Reddy but bounced to safety off the crossbar.
Glory fans began daring to dream shortly afterwards when the hosts went 3-1 up through Chris Harold, whose downward header from Josh Risdon's inch perfect cross gave Melbourne keeper Bouzanis no chance.
City coach Michael Valkanis brought on Nick Fitzgerald in place of Kamau, and the winger went close with a shot that Reddy tipped over.
Perth substitute Nebojsa Marinkovic struck with his first touch of the night when he drove a free kick home to put Glory 4-1 up, as the home fans urged their side on to add to the tally and notch up the margin that would give them a home final.
But Cahill struck again with ten minutes remaining to give City a vital buffer, while Nicolas Colazo got another in the 84th minute to ensure his team will at least play the first week of the finals in front of their own fans.
Glory's Taggart fired one in with two minutes remaining, but Fitzgerald reduced the deficit again to ensure City finished fourth and Perth fifth. If we get a game half as good as this next weekend, no one will be complaining.