Western United scored two goals in injury time to snatch all three points against Adelaide United in a thrilling 2-1 A-League Women’s victory.
Adelaide took the lead just after half-time before the visitors stole the win with goals in the 91st and 97th minute.
The conditions were tough for both teams with the temperature hovering above 30 degrees at kick-off.
Before the contest could reach any great heights, play was halted for over five minutes after a serious injury to Western United’s Stacey Papadopoulos.
After a clearance from Red’s keeper Annalee Grove, Papdopoulos jumped and challenged Paige Hayward for the ball with the pair colliding in mid-air, leaving Papdopoulos knocked unconscious.
The injury appeared serious and the full-back was treated on field by paramedics before being taken away by ambulance.
When play resumed neither side was able to carve out any clear chances, but Western did force Grove into action twice before the interval with routine saves.
Adelaide wasted a glorious chance almost immediately after the restart when Chelsie Dawber put through Yuyi Xiao who sprung the offside trap.
The attacker was clear through on goal and squared a pass for Emelia Murray who completely mis-kicked from five metres out with just the ‘keeper to beat.
The Reds did break the deadlock on 55 minutes thanks to Dawber, who capitalised on a mix-up at the back from Western.
Dylan Holmes collected possession in the middle of the park and lofted a pass over the Western defence with Dawber giving chase.
Western defender Alana Cerne attempted to shepherd the ball for ‘keeper Hillary Beall who raced off her line to clear, only to miss the ball and take out Cerne, leaving Dawber to roll the ball into an empty net from just inside the penalty area.
On 78 minutes the visitors almost equalised when Sydney Cummings threaded a perfect through-ball for substitute Aimee Medwin, who latched onto the pass and took a touch before firing an effort off the cross with Grove beaten.
Cummings was involved again when the visitors did eventually equalise on the stroke of full time.
Adelaide failed to clear and Francesca Iermano teed up the defender whose shot from outside the area took a wicked deflection leaving Grove wrong-footed.
With stoppage time winding down, the visitors earned a corner and when the Reds failed to clear again, Western snatched all three points with a stunner from Emma Robers.
As the ball was partially cleared and bobbled out of the area, Robbers unleashed a thunderous left-footed half volley which beat Grove and nestled into the side of the net.
