The goal of the season contender came in the 51st minute as the 21-year-old made a darting foray towards the far post.

Terry Antonis sswung the ball in from the left and Deng met it sweetly, lashing the ball home first time. Social media lit up!

It was the highlight of an incident-packed game in which both teams were reduced to 10 in the dying moments of the first half. 

 

"I was quite surprised myself, he told Fox Sports post match.  It was a good ball by Tezza and I thought if I was going to hit it first time then I could pull it off.

He added: “I’ve got no words”

The Kenyan-born defender admitted it's "not often" something like that comes off on the training park let alone on the big night.

“It’s always good for a defender to score and help the team as much as you can," he said.

“We had a disappointing result last week and the boys had to step it up. I’m glad that we got the result that we needed and we’ll push on for the finals and the ACL.”

The result takes Victory up to third and secures finals football, while Wanderers drop to 7th and face a season-defining game against 6th-placed Brisbane Roar next week.

Deng has been encouraged by coach Kevin Muscat to get forward and said it was a matter of being strategic.

“Pick the moments when to get forward, keep running forward, and give another option for the players and help the team as much as I can,” he said.

 

 

Leroy George opened the scoring for Victory on 30 minutes. Then, with the match poised 1-0 and 45 seconds left before the break it all erupted - another goal, a penalty and two-send offs.

Wanderers marquee Alvaro Cejudo scored a blinder to level before teammate Michael Thwaite hindered Rhys Williams in the box to cough up the penalty and get sent off.

Besart Berisha converted from the spot and after an agonisingly long consult with VAR, and everyone in the dark as to why, Victory striker Kosta Barbarouses received a straight red for a stomp on the foot of Keanu Baccus in the lead up.

Both teams were at 10 apiece and just as the Wanderers were building a case Terry Antonis whipped a ball to the far post where Thomas Deng let rip.