Looking to go back on top of the Hyundai A-League table, Victory opened the scoring through Danny Allsopp in the third minute before missing several gilt-edged chances to add to the lead.

Glory hit back after a momentum-changing drinks back, scoring two goals in three minutes through Eugene Dadi's header and a one-on-one by Nikita Rukavytsya.

Victory restored parity in the 47th minute after a fumble by Petkovic allowed Ney Fabiano to prod home.

But the veteran goalkeeper gave a last hurrah in the 71st minute, palming a low shot from Fabiano around the post in the 71st minute before Dadi completed his brace five minutes later, volleying home to give Perth the lead once more against the run of play.

With Glory out of finals contention after Quensland's win over Central Coast on Saturday night, the result sees the Perth club consolidate seventh place on the Hyundai A-League standings, with the loss preventing second-placed Melbourne from re-taking top position from Adelaide.

As the mercury hovered in the low 30s, Melbourne started like a rocket, exposing the Glory's defence in the third minute.

Perth centre-back Nikolai Topor-Stanley was worked under a high ball from Victory goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos, allowing Allsopp to gain possession and burst forward, the Victory striker slipping the ball home under retiring Perth veteran Petkovic.

Buoyed by the goal and with the Glory looking particularly uncomfortable in possession, the in-form Victory pressed the advantage, Carlos Hernandez attempting a cross-cum-shot at goal that slipped wide and was cleared by impressive young Perth defender Scott Neville.

A poor bounce of the ball in the 12th minute prevented Archie Thompson from bursting forward and creating a one-on-one with Petkovic, while a rapid counter-attack from the visitors ended with Allsopp firing a tentative shot into the post with Thompson blasting the rebound over.

The drinks break couldn't have come fast enough for Glory but they responded in emphatic style, wresting the momentum back from Melbourne within 30 seconds of the 25th minute re-start when Adriano Pellegrino belted a scorching 20-metre shot into the crossbar.

Two minutes later Rukavytsya used his pace to burst through Melbourne's defence but the striker, departing on Monday for a trial at Dutch club FC Twente, slipped his shot narrowly wide of the upright.

In the 32nd minute a cross from the right by Pellegrino caused confusion in the Victory box and was Dadi was unlucky not to receive a spot kick, but it hardly mattered as the big French-Ivorian powerfully nodded home the resulting Pellegrino corner.

Three minutes later, Glory took the lead when a poor pass in defence from Billy Celeski allowed Rukavytsya to steal possession from Rody Vargas, the striker advancing on goal and burying a classy left-foot finish with the outside of his boot.

Suddenly it was Melbourne looking all at sea as Topor-Stanley produced a barnstorming run at goal and Theoklitos smothered a shot from Rukavytsya but the Victory made the hosts pay for their misses in the second minute after the re-start.

Melbourne won a free kick on the edge of the square but the danger looked to have been averted when Petkovic took it in the air. But a fumble by the goalkeeper saw the ball land at the feet of Fabiano, the Brazilian prodding it home just seconds after coming on for the ineffectual Hernandez.

In the hot conditions, the goal led to a lull in proceedings as the Victory pressed for another goal while Glory seemed content to defend and attack on the break.

But despite controlling possession, and seeing a low shot from Fabiano palmed around the post by Petkovic, Victory were caught with a 76th minute sucker-punch after Dadi was fouled 20 metres from goal.

A dipping free kick from Naum Seukulovski wasn't cut off by Vargas and a desperate Dadi got his foot to it on the full, the volley flying past Theoklitos to give Glory the lead once more.

The task got harder for Melbourne with two minutes left on the clock when Matthew Kemp received a second yellow card for a poor challenge on Neville, with Perth coming close to adding a fourth during injury time.

A good ball from Nick Rizzo released Dadi but the striker was pulled back by Kevin Muscat on the edge of the area, the referee opting not to point to the spot.