Sophie Harding’s 92nd-minute equaliser lifted Western Sydney Wanderers to a stunning 4-4 draw and eliminated Brisbane Roar from the Ninja A-League finals race.
Tameka Yallop’s hat-trick and her 85th-minute strike – after Western Sydney equalised restored parity seconds earlier – appeared to have been enough for Brisbane to snap a seven-game drought to stay in the finals hunt on Sunday.
But 2023-24 Julie Dolan Medallist Harding scored her first goal since January to silence the Perry Park crowd in incredible scenes.
Brisbane had not won since February 9 as four consecutive losses saw them slip out of the top six and that drought extended to eight games in a result, coupled with Canberra United’s win over Wellington Phoenix, that ousted the Roar from the top-six picture.
There was plenty of more drama in Brisbane, where both the Roar and Western Sydney were reduced to 10 players deep into first-half stoppage time after home star Laini Freier and Wanderers goalkeeper Sham Khamis were sent off.
Brisbane are seventh in the table with one round remaining, four points clear of Canberra, while Western Sydney remain bottom but ended a run of five straight defeats.
There were plenty of goals and drama in the first half at Perry Park.
It was the Yallop show as the star skipper scored twice in 12 minutes to give the Roar a 2-0 lead.
Great work from team-mate Emily Pringle to keep the ball inside the byline before squaring to Yallop gave Brisbane a 16th-minute lead.
Yallop bagged her second of the game approaching the half-hour mark when she fired a low shot into the back of the net.
The Wanderers did pull a goal back eight minutes before half-time when Trew produced a moment of individual brilliance to reduce the deficit.
It all kicked off in the fifth of first-half stoppage time after Brisbane’s Laini Freier and Wanderers goalkeeper Khamis were sent off in chaotic scenes.
That moment led to an A-Leagues debut for 19-year-old Aimee Hall, who saw one of Western Sydney’s assistant coaches yellow carded while attempting to help the substitute keeper warm-up.
Yallop had a golden chance to complete her hat-trick on the hour after surging through on goal but debutant Hall stuck out a strong hand to thwart the Aussie star.
Then Brisbane defender Leia Varley rattled the crossbar moments later.
Roar did get their goals 22 minutes from the end when Hayashi’s half-volley rifled into the back of the net.
Western Sydney, though, refused to surrender as substitute Caspers provided the quickly reply for the visiting team within five minutes.
The Wanderers then equalised in the 85th minute as McComasky found the back of the net, only for Yallop to complete her hat-trick within seconds.
It took Yallop’s tally to 12 goals for the second – equal second with Melbourne Victory’s Emily Gielnik and two adrift of Melbourne City star Holly McNamara (14).
But there was one final twist in the tale as Harding struck in the second minute of stoppage time.
