By James Willoughby (@jwilloughby26)

Substitute Kam Simsek netted a dramatic 96th-minute winner as Moreland City, who scored three goals in the last 15 minutes, sealed a remarkable 3-2 come-from-behind win at Bulleen Lions on Monday.

Bulleen - who needed just a point to return to the top of the NPL1 West table - led 2-0 with seven minutes of normal time remaining after first-half strikes from Takanori Nishimoto and Billy Romas.

Casey Thomas' header gave Moreland a lifeline, though, and the same player bagged the equaliser from the penalty spot after Bulleen goalkeeper Matt Banovic brought down Ossie Kose.

Both sides had good chances to net the winner but a draw looked on the cards until Simsek prodded home from close range to spark wild celebrations among the travelling fans and settle a breathless contest at the Veneto Club.

Defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Bulleen, who completely controlled the first half, but simply ran out of legs.

Nishimoto smacked an effort against the post in the 15th minute before opening the scoring in style, storming forward before firing into the bottom-right corner from 20 yards.

His sweet left-foot finish was added to just one minute later, as Romas turned in Gianni De Nittis' shot to put the Lions in control.

A Kose cross floated onto the top of the crossbar at the other end and the woodwork continued to play a part in the contest, denying De Nittis what would have been a 20-yard screamer in the 44th minute.

Moreland improved after the break, with Nej Sahin going close on two occasions, while Mo Kurucu should have done better when he nodded straight at Banovic from Yang Tou-Yeng's cross.

Bulleen had chances of their own, with Matteo Ballan's deflected free-kick nearly creeping in, but Thomas' looping header set up a grandstand finish.

A poor header back to the keeper then caught Bulleen short, with Banovic forced to rush off his line and foul Kose, but Thomas dispatched the resultant penalty in style to level proceedings.

Kose shot just over in the third minute of stoppage time before the impressive Nishimoto, through on goal for Bulleen after a quick counter-attack, fired wide. And his miss allowed Simsek to be the hero, with his quick reaction and clever finish giving Moreland City a sensational victory.

Match Details

Bulleen Lions 2 (Nashimoto 23', Romas 24') defeated by Moreland City 3 (Casey Thomas 83', 88', Simsek 90+6) at Veneto Club

Bulleen Lions: 1. Matt BANOVIC, 4. Samual BORGHESI, 5. Lewis WADDELL, 6. Bardhi HYSOLI, 8. Matteo BALLAN, 10. Takanori NISHIMOTO, 11. Gianni DE NITTIS (13. Dean LORENZI 85'), 12. Eli LUTTMER, 15. Billy ROMAS (33. Davide CARDAMONE 75'), 18. Felix ROSMAN, 20. Andrew MULLETT

Unused Subs: 21. Luke GALLO, 7. Joshua SABADUSSI

Yellow Cards: Banovic 88'

Red Cards: Nil

Moreland City: 1. Brandon GALGANO, 21. Nej SAHIN, 18. Orrie KARA, 12. Shane CARR, 2. Yang TOU-YENG, 17. Liam BRIAN (13. Vlad KHAMEES 75'), 8. Corey THOMAS, 14. Casey THOMAS, 9. Gareth RICHARDS (11. Kam SIMSEK 65'), 23. Mo KURUCU (20. Rob BASSANO 88'), 7. Ossie KOSE

Unused Subs: 5. Ossie KARA, 16. Nathan GOURZELAS

Yellow Cards: Orrie Kara 78', Casey Thomas 80', Corey Thomas 86', Simsek 94'

Red Cards: Nil