Besart Berisha stars as Melbourne Victory stage dramatic fightback

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:06 am

Besart Berisha scored in second-half injury time to salvage a 3-3 draw for Melbourne Victory in a thrilling comeback at Central Coast Mariners.

Harry Ascroft opened the scoring for the Mariners on 12 minutes, heading in from Mitchell Austin's inswinging corner.

Josh Bingham doubled their advantage when his low shot went in off the foot of the post.

Melbourne Victory staged a brilliant comeback at Central Coast Mariners.
Robert Prezioso/Getty Images

Mitch Austin made it 3-0 before half-time, racing clear before keeping his cool and curling home, seemingly ending the game as a contest.

But Victory were handed a lifeline when Kosta Barbarouses was felled in the box, allowing Berisha to step up and score from the spot.

It was 3-2 on 66 minutes when Archie Thompson reacted quickest after the ball cannoned back out off the crossbar.

And the comeback was completed in the final seconds as Berisha's header beat goalkeeper Tom Heward-Belle.