Ufuk Talay won the game with the last kick of the game from the penalty spot as Sydney moved into the top four.

A record Bluetongue Stadium crowd of 17,514 was treated to a night they will never forget in a match that had absolutely everything.

“That was the best A-League game I’ve ever seen,” Sydney coach John Kosmina said. “It was an unbelievable game of football from start to finish.

"It had everything, nine goals, some magnificent goals and it was one of those game people will talk about for years.

“It was a great night for the fans, a ground record and both teams put on a show. We showed great character under tremendous pressure and we showed what we are made of.”

Nine goals and two red cards was only part of the story as the action flowed relentlessly with no chance for either side to catch their breath.

Mariners defender Dean Heffernan's wouldn't have been short of material for the best man’s speech he was to deliver at his brother’s wedding...but he was stretchered off in the dying moments with a suspected broken leg.

Speaking just after the whistle home skipper Alex Wilkinson said: “It was a bit of a weird one. Very disappointing to lose it like that.

"Credit to the boys, we came back time and time again. To lose it like that though, there’s no words for it.

"Take the positives though - we’re still on top going into the Christmas break. A great crowd and I think we put on a decent spectacle.”

Victorious skipper Tony Popovic said: “Difficult to summarize that. It’s the first time I’ve played in a scoreline like that.

"We stood up to be counted. We’ve got our foot in the top four now and the next job is to stay there.”

Former Sydney FC striker Sasho Petrovski started up front for the Mariners alongside Aloisi, the Socceroo who spurned the men in blue earlier this season. In fact Lawrie McKinna was able to name the same side that had defeated Adelaide last week as his team looked to extend its lead at the top of the Hyundai A-League.

John Kosmina did not enjoy the same luxury. The visitors were without goalkeeper Clint Bolton (hip injury) and defender Mark Milligan (back problem) with Ivan Necevski handed his first start of the season between the sticks.Kosmina was also unable to call on Juninho (knee) and Ruben Zadkovich (suspension). Mark Rudan said goodbye to the club in last weekend’s defeat by Perth Glory. There was a first start in defence though for new boy Mark Robertson with youngster Nikolas Tsattalios getting a run out at left back.

The home team got off to the best possible start with Mile Jedinak sending a long range screamer past Necevski with just two minutes and 15 seconds on the clock – all from a short free-kick teed up for him to strike. The Sydney keeper was well beaten although the shot did take a deflection as it whistled into the net.

Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic had to be alert at the other end moments later as he raced out to head clear from Alex Brosque as Sydney looked for an instant response.

Petrovski should have doubled the lead in the fifth minute with a wonderful counter-attacking move ending with Tom Pondeljak teeing up Petrovski from the right, only for the striker to put a woeful effort wide of the left post. He should have buried it and that would have left the visitors with a huge mountain to climb.

Heffernan forced a corner down the left on nine minutes with Pondeljak’s delivery causing a few flutters in the visiting defence.

Brosque furiously claimed he should have had a penalty on 10 minutes as he went down under a challenge from Mariners skipper Alex Wilkinson. A spot-kick would have been harsh though as it was a nothing sort of tangle rather than anything sinister.

Steve Corica saw his shot blocked on the edge of the area by Jedinak as the derby continued to provide plenty of entertainment – the Mariners having much the better of it.

The Mariners doubled their lead on 15 minutes as Aloisi stole in at the near post to meet Pondeljak’s cross from the right to bag his fifth goal in nine games – truly awful defending from Sydney FC.

Over and out for the visitors? – not on your life!

Seconds later, more drama as the Mariners were reduced to 10 men. Vukovic handled outside the area as he came out to meet Brosque and referee Matthew Breeze had no hesitation in producing the red card.

Matthew Trott emerged to take his place between the sticks with Petrovski the man to make way. The Mariners escaped further punishment though as Brosque produced a weak free-kick from the set piece and it was easily cleared by the Mariners wall.

All in all, a real pre-festive treat in the opening 20 minutes. Michael Bridges saw a deflected shot loop over for a corner and from the set piece Trott was superbly placed to tip over a header from Iain Fyfe.

Wilkinson headed clear a Robbie Middleby cross after a horrible mess up by Heffernan – Bridges poised to pounce at the far post.

The visitors hauled themselves back into the game on 33 with Fyfe sending a bullet of a header into the top left-hand corner of the net, the defender climbing well to meet an outswinging corner from the right. It was his first goal since the opening couple of rounds of last season.

Aloisi found the side-netting after another crisp passing move by the Mariners while Trott raced out to smother a Bridges effort on 39. Pondeljak almost threaded the ball through to put Aloisi clear three minutes later as the Mariners looked for the security of a two-goal advantage once again.

There was certainly an edge to proceedings with Hutchinson the first player to pick up a yellow card (as opposed to a red) for a clumsy challenge on Corica. It was a costly booking with the Mariners midfielder now facing a ban.

After a mere 60 seconds of added time referee Breeze blew for half-time with the Mariners still hanging on to their lead.

Trott made a complete hash of trying to punch clear on 49 at the expense of a corner. The keeper made amends as he brilliantly kept out Tony Popovic’s header only for Terry McFlynn to pounce on the loose ball and slam a shot into the roof of the net – his first goal since the inaugural season of the Hyundai A-League.

From 2-0 up and cruising, the Mariners were now stunned and it was the travelling Sydney FC fans making all the noise. Tony Vidmar made a crucial block on 54 to thwart Corica while Pondeljak surged forward at the other end, only to slip at the crucial moment and lift his shot over the crossbar. It did at least provide his team with a breather.

Trott did well to turn a deflected Brosque shot around the left post on 57 with Sydney earning their 11th corner of the game. The Mariners continued to struggle in trying to deal with such set pieces and Popovic saw a header hacked off the line.

The Mariners problems continued to mount as Aloisi collapsed with a knee problem on 59, Matt Simon coming on to replace him. Sydney also made a change on the hour with Tsattalios making way for Adam Biddle.

Brosque fired wide of the right post from Biddle’s low cross as Sydney pushed to get their noses in front for the first time in the match.

Andrew Clark and Popovic both needed treatment for head injuries with the Mariners actually down to nine men while the former was off the pitch.
Popovic’s pain intensified when he was penalised for hauling down Simon in the box and the referee pointed to the spot on 63 minutes.

The nine men had the chance to go back in front and Greg Owens crashed his spot-kick into the right-hand corner of the net, Necevski with no chance although he guessed the right way. The drama just kept on coming to the delight of the bulk of a record Bluetongue crowd of 17,514.

Hutchinson was hurt in a challenge with McFlynn on 65 but to McKinna’s relief was able to resume battle.

As Sydney forced yet another corner, further woeful defending from the Mariners presented Popovic with a free header. Trott was well placed to clear with Sydney claiming the keeper had hauled down Bridges in the follow up.

Play broke to the other as the match continued at a breathless pace, Simon almost catching out Necevski with a sneaky effort.

Substitute Biddle got the better of Heffernan on 71 and calmly fired past Trott to make it 3-3 and record his first Hyundai A-League goal in the process.

The ineffective Bridges made way for Brendon Santalab on 74 while Jedinak was a fraction too high with a powerful strike.

Barely seconds later Santalab made the best possible impact, thrashing a tremendous volley past Trott into the top right hand corner of the net. The travelling fans exploded with joy as a truly remarkable match took yet another twist.

Owens made way for Adam Kwasnik on 79 as Biddle rattled a shot beyond the left post after a flick on from Brosque.

Trott kept out a thumping drive from Brosque on 81 while Heffernan couldn’t quite stretch to reach Simon’s cross from the right. The Mariners keeper made an even better save to tip away Ufuk Talay’s free-kick two minutes later as the visitors looked to put the result beyond doubt.

Trott to the rescue yet again as he somehow kept out a Corica strike at the base of his right post as the match moved into the final five minutes.

An astonishing affair was still not finished as substitute Kwasnik reacted to a flick on and rifled into the net for 4-4.

No sooner had the game kicked off again when Brosque teed up McFlynn who promptly rattled the right post with Clark somehow getting the ball clear.

As the match moved beyond the three added minutes Kwasnik was red carded for handball as he tried to keep out a Santalab header.

Up stepped Talay, as cool as you like, to ram the penalty into the net and make it 5-4. Extraordinary, simply extraordinary. The stuff of dreams and what a tragedy that the DVD won’t hit the shops in time for Christmas. Still, Santa certainly delivered early here.