Melbourne Victory earned themselves a PS4 NPL playoff tie with North Geelong Warriors at the expense of NPL 1 west runners up Moreland Zebras on Sunday afternoon as they snatched the 3 points late on in a dramatic 2-1 win at Jack Edwards Reserve.

An early goal from Moreland's Josh McMonagle-Ihasz was cancelled out by a Joseph Katebian goal in the 40th minute, with Katebian repeating the feat in the 90th minute to steal the 3 points.

It took Moreland all of 3 minutes to state their intent as a 25 yard strike from McMonagle-Ihasz found the corner via the left upright putting the hosts 1-0 up.

The goal was followed by a period of end to end football which saw Moreland defend well against a dangerous Melbourne Victory attack.

Despite their dominance, Victory failed to muster up a decent chance on goal and it was Moreland that looked more and more dangerous with every counter attack.

Baggio Yousif would be the next player to put Victory custodian Lucas Spinella to the test as he sent a wicked dipping strike toward goal on 38 minutes.

His strike forced a terrific save from Spinella as he tipped the ball over the bar to keep his side in the match.

Victory equalised five minutes before the half as a Reece Caldecourt cross was met with a weak parry from Zebra's custodian Nikola Kostadinovski allowing Katebian to slam home the loose ball from 6 yards.

The second half provided no indication that either side was looking to take the game into extra time.

Eight minutes after the restart McMonagle-Ihasz fired another long range effort at Spinella, this time striking the right post.

Moreland posed another threat to the Victory goal mouth in the 59th minute of play as a menacing free kick from James Kelly struck the crossbar, cue groans of despair from the Zebras faithful.

Despite a heated contest with late challenges and flared tempers aplenty, the remainder of the half saw very little in terms of goal mouth action.

The third and final goal came in dramatic circumstances after a contentious free kick decision gifted Katebian with the opportunity to all but win it for Victory in the 90th minute.

His subsequent strike flew under a jumping wall and into the bottom corner of the net in what would turn out to be the match winner.

The win leaves Victory one win away from a spot in the 2016 NPL as the face North Geelong Warriors next Saturday afternoon at JL Murphy Reserve at 3pm.

Match Details

Moreland Zebras 1 (McMonagle-Ihasz 3') defeated by Melbourne Victory 2 (Katebian 40', 90') at Jack Edwards Reserve, Oakleigh

Moreland Zebras: 1. Nikola KOSTADINOVSKI (GK), 2. Simon SYMEOY, 5. Daniel PETROV, 8. Joshua McMONAGLE-IHASZ, 10. Danny CHARALAMBOUS, 11. Baggio YOUSIF (24. Josh SABIDUSSI 81'), 12. Bradley MURRAY, 3. Johnny CRIVELLI (7. Kliment DIMITRIESKI 90+2') 14. James PAPADIMITRIOU, 16. Mile MEDJEDOVIC (C), 19. James KELLY.

Unused Subs: 21. Aleksander STOJANOVSKI, 15. William NUTTALL, 23. Josh BERRIOS.

Yellow Cards: Crivelli 16', Petrov 83', Medjedovic 90+2'

Red Cards: Nil

Melbourne Victory: 1. Lucas SPINELLA (GK), 19. Nick GLAVAN, 4. Thomas DENG, 14. Callum GOULDING, 2. Reece CALDECOURT, 6. Stefan NIGRO, 8. Anthony DUZEL, 11. John MACLEAN (10. Pearce WARING 70'), 17. George HOWARD, 9. Joseph KATEBIAN (C), 13. Lucas DERRICK (7. Jesse DALEY 90+3')

Unused Subs: 20. Steve KATZIKARTIS, 16. Patrick AVICE, 12. Dion PAOLA

Yellow Cards: Duzel 78'

Red Cards: Nil