Wollongong FC came back from the dead - and kept their NSW Premier League title hopes alive - with a stirring 3-2 win over Marconi at Crehan Park yesterday.
The Wolves trailed 2-0 with just over 20 minutes left before a Chris Price double and Ilija Prenzoski's 85th-minute winner capped a memorable comeback.
Wollongong's triumph - labelled by coach John Turner as their best to date - set up a premiership-deciding showdown against competition leaders Sutherland this Sunday.
"I'm speechless - we were gone, we were buried," Turner said.
"The character in this team is unbelievable. I hope they achieve what they deserve next week.
"Even when we were gone today we didn't drop our heads, we kept plugging away.
"Any team that can give Marconi two goals start with half an hour to go and gets up 3-2 is something special."
Wollongong trailed 1-0 at half-time after a 15th-minute goal by Tallan Martin and lost skipper Ben Blake just four minutes into the second half due to a corked thigh.
Blake was replaced by Alfredo, who brought down Martin in the area for a 53rd-minute penalty.
Ex-Wollongong player Jay Lucas converted the spot kick, making it 2-0 to Marconi.
However, Wollongong rallied and Price's 67th-minute volley made it 2-1.
Eight minutes later, Price headed home a Tynan Diaz corner to equalise.
Alfredo went from villain to hero in the 85th minute when he hammered a ball up the middle of the park that reached striker Prenzoski, who calmly finished to give the hosts a heart-stopping 3-2 victory.
The result meant Wollongong stayed level on competition points with Sutherland - who defeated West Sydney Berries 6-0 on Saturday night. The Sharks-Wolves clash at Seymour Shaw Park will decide the premiership.
Turner said Wollongong would have to start that match better than they did yesterday to have any hope of winning the title.
"I gave them a big rev at half-time, I wasn't happy and I let them know it," Turner said.
"I thought we were very lethargic in the first half but in the second half we turned it on.
"I think we've got to start a lot better - our fluency has taken a bit of time.
"Get us on the Tiger Turf (Seymour Shaw Park) surface and the real Wollongong will stand up."
Turner said yesterday's arm-wrestle, played in cold conditions on a muddy pitch, would stand the Wolves in good stead for Sunday's do-or-die encounter.
"Doesn't hurt doing it the hard way, that's the sort of game you want," Turner said.
"Today wasn't our most important win of the year, but it was our best win of the year."
Turner praised Mitchell Long, who replaced Sydney FC striker Dezi Giraldi in the starting side, but hadn't decided whether Justin Pasfield or Michael Turnbull would start between the posts.
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