By Tara Murray, with Justin Chadwick, AAP
Western United youngster Jordan Lauton seized the headlines with a stunning 95th-minute bicycle kick to hand his side a 3-2 A-League Men’s win over Perth Glory on Friday night.
The 21-year-old had only come on as a substitute 10 minutes prior and added his entry into the volumes of great A-League goals before drawing a second yellow card and being sent off after removing his shirt in celebration.
That winner was made possible by Tate Russell’s equaliser in the second minute of stoppage, the right-back scoring his first Western United goal.
Matthew Grimaldi scored his second goal in three matches in the first half as John Aloisi’s men created a host of chances and were eventually rewarded with one of the most remarkable late comebacks in A-League history.
United moved level on points with second place after a fourth straight win, equalling a club record ahead of a huge week of derbies against rivals Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.
Meanwhile, a Kahli Johnson double secured Western’s women’s side a 2-0 win against Newcastle Jets on Saturday night.
Johnson struck in the 59th and 78th minutes to ensure United took home all three points, lifting them to fourth on the ladder.
But it was the 90th-minute red card to Jets’ Natasha Prior that stole all the headlines.
Prior was given her marching orders for verbal abuse behind the play.
The referee initially believed the abuse was directed at a linesperson, but it appeared Prior was merely responding to flak she had received from a crowd member.
“You can’t allow a person in the crowd to say something like that to her,” Jets coach Ryan Campbell said from the sidelines.
“Linesman, it wasn’t at you, it was at the crowd member.”
His pleas fell on deaf ears, with the red card standing.
To add to the drama, players from both sides became involved in a mini melee moments later as confusion reigned and tempers threatened to boil over.
Both sides unleashed eight shots apiece in an entertaining first half that failed to yield any goals.
Johnson sent through a warning early on when she was able to round the goalkeeper before fluffing her shot.
And she almost broke the deadlock later in the half when her long-range shot struck the underside of the crossbar before rebounding away.
United’s opener came in bizarre and controversial fashion, with Julia Sardo’s speculative cross from near the sideline causing all sorts of panic.
Jets goalkeeper Tiahna Robertson jumped in a bid to catch the ball on the line but was knocked over by Johnson as the Western United striker bundled the ball in.
Newcastle players were in disbelief that the goal was allowed to stand, and Campbell was livid on the sidelines, believing it was a clear foul on Robertson.
Johnson iced the win with a header at the back post following a sweet cross from Kiara De Domizio.
In another feel good moment for United, Adriana Taranto came off the bench in the 79th minute for her first appearance since tearing her ACL in March last year.
She was one of the players to receive a yellow card at the death for her involvement in the melee.
