Newcastle goalkeeper Izzy Nino will miss a do-or-die A-League Women clash next week after being sent off reacting to a bizarre act by Matildas international Emily Gielnik.
Nino’s Jets kept their finals hopes alive when they came from behind for a 3-2 win over Gielnik’s Melbourne Victory, with the match ended in acrimonious circumstances.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Emily Gielnik clashes with two rival players in fiery melee.
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Tempers flared in the 89th minute when Gielnik yanked Mindy Barbieri up off the ground as the Newcastle midfielder was tying her laces.
Gielnik and Barbieri clashed before several Jets players rushed in to separate the pair — including American Nino.
“There’s a fight here, this is extraordinary,” Teo Pellizzeri said in commentary.
But Gielnik took exception to being shoved by Nino, who in turn pushed her opponent in the neck before being held back by Newcastle players and told off by Victory captain Kayla Morrison.
The referee handed out a yellow card to Gielnik and a red to Nino.
“No way … she grabbed my neck,” Nino could be seen telling the ref.
The 24-year-old revved up the home crowd on her way off the field.
Newcastle are now just three points behind Victory, albeit with a worse goal difference, with one game remaining in the season.
Melbourne only needed a point from Saturday’s trip to Newcastle to secure a finals berth, but they twice threw away a lead at the No.2 Sportsground.
Rachel Lowe’s 11th goal of the season handed Victory the advantage in the 14th minute, but Lauren Allan headed home shortly before halftime for the Jets to keep the contest alive.
Tori Hansen’s lovely volley from a Jamilla Rankin free kick restored Victory’s lead in the 53rd minute.
Melina Ayres, a two-time championship winner with Victory, scored the equaliser in the 80th minute and won the match for Newcastle seven minutes later when she launched from the edge of the 18-yard box.
Elsewhere, Western United star Hannah Keane was stretchered off with a horror leg injury in a 3-1 loss to the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Keane was running towards goal and seemingly got her right foot caught, then fell awkwardly on the leg.
There was a lengthy delay as Keane received treatment at Wanderers Football Park before being taken from the field with a likely season-ending injury.
United are already potentially without Chloe Logarzo (hip) for the rest of the season.
Keane had scored the first goal of the game in the 17th minute after the Wanderers failed to deal with a Tyla-Jay Vlajnic corner.
Western Sydney hit back when Ella Buchanan tapped home from close range in the 39th minute.
Star striker Sophie Harding put Western Sydney in front in the 61st minute, then wrapped up victory in the 82nd.
– with Anna Harrington, AAP