Western United orchestrated a stunning comeback to defeat Melbourne Victory 4-3 in a gripping A-League Men derby at AAMI Park on Friday night, continuing their reputation as the league's comeback kings. After trailing on three occasions, the visitors clinched victory with two injury-time goals, including the match-winner from Hiroshi Ibusuki, who slotted home his second of the night during the 94th minute to silence the home crowd.
John Aloisi’s side demonstrated remarkable resilience, having already shown their potential with previous comebacks this season. Last week, it was Jordan Lauton’s spectacular goal against Perth Glory which highlighted their late-game prowess yet again. Aloisi noted this characteristic of his team, stating, “If it was the first time we did it, we’ll say maybe it was a little bit of luck, but it’s not the first time this season we’ve done it. It's the belief the boys have to keep going. They show such resilience, such character.”
The match began favorably for the Victory, who, under interim coach Arthur Diles—making his debut after taking over from Patrick Kisnorbo—started aggressively. Defender Brendan Hamill opened the scoring with a precise shot just nine minutes in after receiving the ball from Jordi Valadon after a corner.
Despite this initial lead, Western United quickly leveled through Ibusuki before Victory regained the advantage thanks to Bruno Fornaroli, who netted his first goal since returning to the starting lineup. The first half ended with Victory leading 2-1 after Fornaroli’s close-range effort successfully defeated the United’s goalkeeper, Matt Sutton.
After halftime, Western displayed renewed vigor, with Abel Walatee equalizing with another goal. Victory seemed poised to regain the lead but had a goal disallowed mid-second half, which could have changed the momentum entirely, according to Diles, who lamented, “They’re the little moments [that can turn the game].”
Victory finally managed to lead again with Santos scoring his first goal for the club, celebrating emphatically with a backflip, but this was not enough to secure the victory. The 91st minute saw Noah Botic sending his header home from a corner to equalize for the United.
To add salt to the wounds for the home fans, Ibusuki found the net against the run of play, completing the comeback for the visitors who embraced the dramatic finale.
Arthur Diles expressed both disappointment and pride after the match, indicating the potential he sees within his squad. “There were so many positives tonight,” he said. “I thought tonight for the most part we were very good. We created chances and scored good goals, but the result is disheartening. We need to look at every goal we conceded just like we will analyze the chances we created.”
The match, which saw Victory falling to their fifth consecutive match without victory—having secured their last win against Perth on December 8—raised questions about the team's morale and future under Diles. “These moments can really hurt, and it’s tough for the players and coaches, especially for Jason Geria, who ended his Victory career without victory,” added Diles.
Geria was captaining the side for the last time before transferring to Japanese second-division club Albirex Niigata. Diles was clearly emotional about Geria's departure, emphasizing his importance to the club: “He’s everything this club’s about… I’m devastated for him tonight.”
The loss places pressure on Victory to regroup quickly, as they prepare to face Adelaide United on January 18, where winning will be imperative to retain their position within the playoff bracket. Meanwhile, Western United will look to build on this morale-boosting victory as they continue their quest for playoff positioning after momentarily breaking their losing streak.
Both teams entered this derby with compelling narratives: Victory seeking to end their winless streak and United yearning for redemption. Their meeting was marked by tensions and twelve goals combined over their last meetings, indicating the high stakes synonymous with A-League derbies.
Despite the heartbreak for the home side, the drama of the match reinforces the unpredictable nature of the league. Fans left AAMI Park buzzing about the thrilling encounter, proving once again why A-League matches are not just games, but visceral experiences inviting every supporter to feel every rise and fall.