After a scrappy first half the game erupted in the second stanza with two own goals, a missed penalty and a red card.

A heavily deflected shot by Neil Kilkenny gave City the lead (70') after Besart Berisha missed a penalty (63').

But the home side snatched it late. Berisha in tears after slotting home the equaliser (84') before an own goal to Manny Muscat (86') decided the contest.

The drama continued after the winning goal as City star Tim Cahill was given his marching orders as he was preparing to take to the field (88').

The result breaks Victory's three game losing streak and puts them within nine points of league leaders Sydney FC.

A total of seven yellow cards were given to City while Victory had four brandished against them in a game with plenty of niggle.

Marco Rojas, who was immense throughout, could have opened the scoring as early as the 7th minute when Ollie Bozanic’s quickly taken free kick landed for the Kiwi, but his first time touch had the ball landing on top of the net.

In the 39th minute Bruno Fornaroli scored a goal which was given offside after Kilkenny’s ball found the Uruguayan only for his celebration to be cut short by the linesman.

But just before the break Berisha missed an open goal from Alan Baro’s cross leaving many of the home fans wondering how he missed it.

Victory had a number of chances during the second half, but most of their shots were finding Bouzanis’ gloves.

Just over the hour mark Luke Brattan brought down Rojas in the box, but Berisha’s subsequent penalty was thwarted by Bouzanis - bringing up his third missed penalty of the season.

And on the other end Kilkenny finally opened the scoring after Fernando Brandan’s cross was effective, leaving the final shot deflecting off Baro’s legs, and into the goal.

Rojas’ blistering pace down the right was causing headaches for City and the pressure eventually told when his cut back found Berisha who rifled home the equaliser with just minutes on the clock.

Moments later it was pandemonium as Jason Geria’s cross found Muscat's legs which landed into the back of the net.

It was momentarily ruled out for offside before referee Chris Beath overruled the linesman and called it an own goal as both camps surrounded the officials.

Victory face Newcastle Jets next week while City, in 4th spot, face Brisbane Roar at home. 

Melbourne Victory: 20. THOMAS Lawrence, 2. GERIA Jason, 4. ANSELL Nick, 6. BROXHAM Leigh (80’ 5. GEORGIEVSKI Daniel), 7. ROJAS Marco, 8. BERISHA Besart (93’ 16. MAHAZI Rashid), 10. TROISI James, 13. BOZANIC Ollie, 14. BEN KHALFALLAH Fahid (11. AUSTIN Mitch), 15. BARO Alan, 21. VALERI Carl

Melbourne City: 20. BOUZANIS Dean, 2. MUSCAT Manny, 5. FRANJIC Ivan, 6. MALIK Osama, 8. KILKENNY Neil, 9. COLAZO Nico, 10. CACERES Anthony (65’ 11. KAMAU Bruce), 22. JAKOBSEN Michael (45’ TONGYIK Ruon), 23. FORNAROLI Bruno, 26. BRATTAN Luke, 27. BRANDAN Fernando

Referee: Chris Beath