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A crowd of over 1,000 were on hand to see an Oakleigh side that on paper is potentially the best in the competition and a Hume City side who have limped to the line, collecting zero points from their last three VPL outings.
Hume City welcomed back veteran Captain/Coach Andy Vlahos whilst Oakleigh went in unchanged to the side that drew with Dandenong last week.
Hume were unlucky to have not have a penalty inside the first ten minutes when the first of four handball shouts for the match was turned down by reigning VPL referee of the year Shaun Evans. Minutes later potential A-League signing Hayden Doyle created something out of nothing but his long range shot went high and wide. Hume were looking dangerous from the set pieces none more so when Andy Vlahos neatly headed a free kick towards the bottom corner only to see Oakleigh 'keeper Peter Zois (Melbourne Heart) superbly save.
Oakleigh controlled the remainder of the first half with Doyle again having a chance for the opener but only for a first poor touch. 30 minutes in Doyle again shot from outside the box, this time beating Hume 'keeper Lou Acevski with only to the ball smashing onto the woodwork saving City.
An Oakleigh goal was coming and it was Ricky Diaco who provided it on 34' with a fortunate hit with the outside of the boot that lobbed into the top right corner giving Acevski little hope. The second goal was pure class with Frankie Lagana ghosting in at the back unmarked to head in a precise cross from Luke Walker giving the Cannons a 2-0 lead at half time. A good reflection on how the game had played out.
Hume came out firing in the second half and were led from the front by the veteran Vlahos who was in the thick of everything, but it was that man Richie Cardozo who scored a thunderbolt from 25 metres that was still rising when it smashed into the net giving Zois no hope on 50' which handed Hume some hope.
Four minutes later the scores were level as Hume caught Oakleigh napping; taking a quick free kick that was whipped in and bundled over the line in a goalmouth scrap in which the players were not even sure who scored. So at 2-2 with a little under a half hour to play it was definitely game on.
Ricky Diaco was awarded a penalty on 58' minutes that was part soft and part stupid after City defender Dehaini was adjudged to have shoved an already falling Diaco. Former Melbourne Victory player Diaco stepped up and blasted the spot kick with Acevski getting a hand to it but not enough to stop it completely.
Oakleigh continued to control the possession but Hume looked dangerous on the counter, going through Vlahos at every opportunity. On 71' it was that man putting Atila Ofli through who blasted the would be equaliser over the bar.
In an astonishing last five minutes Hume scored the equaliser through Ofli who prodded home after Acevski dropped the ball, then just as it looked like the game was heading into extra time Ofli was left deep with only one defender and the 'keeper to beat, a task that was completed with ease, Hume snatching the win at the death in an unbelievable finish to a classic game.
Hume now face Minor Premiership winners Green Gully for a spot in the Alanic Victorian Premier League Grand Final whilst Oakleigh host South Melbourne who earlier in the day ended Heidelberg United's season with a 1-0 win.