How did that happen?
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A 10-man Murray United blew a 2-0 lead to suffer a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Whittlesea Ranges at La Trobe on Saturday.
A red card for Melkie Woldemichael in the latter stages of the first half changed the game as the visitors did the unthinkable.
Archie Thompson scored his first of the season with a glancing header from a cross in the 35th minute.
But Murray was down to ten men less than three minutes later when Woldemichael was shown a straight red for a physical challenge.
They got through to the break with the 1-0 lead intact and doubled it three minutes into the second half when Josh Zito scorched a shot past the keeper.
Murray was in complete control with 30 to play before Jose Ramires got in behind Ryan Giles and finished.
Whittlesea continued to push and it was Ramires again with a well-placed shot from beyond the 18-yard box to level it at 2-2.
The final blow was delivered in stoppage time by Joseph Sieh with a stunning strike from 30 yards which left Murray keeper Abdulkerim Koc with no chance.
Murray coach Elliot Jones couldn't hide his frustration.
"We make it tough on ourselves and continually shoot ourselves in the foot," he said.
"We were 1-0 up and looking good and then the red card (to Woldemichael), the referee has given a straight red which has hurt us again.
"To come out and get another goal and be 2-0 up, you shouldn't lose from there whether you've got 10 men or not.
"It was a cracking goal that won the game, but I would have liked to have think we could close it out with our ten men.
"That's the one that got away for us.
"I was quite harsh on the guys after the game because I really felt frustrated and the guys know they let themselves down."
Woldemichael will miss at least two weeks with suspension for his red card, while centre back Sean Pye hurt his ankle late in the game.
"Lewis Greenwood is looking like a really good signing now because he'll probably come in and fill that void," Jones said.
"We've got guys like Jordy Hore and Fletcher Caponecchia, who is coming back from injury, so I feel like we've got some real depth."
The class of Jade North would have been welcome given the nature of the second half, but Jones didn't use his absence as an excuse.
"We've actually had a really good few weeks and been playing some really good football, that's a slip up, but I genuinely think we're improving," Jones said.
"It just seems every time we make a mistake, we get punished, but that's what this league is all about."
Despite the result, Jones was thrilled for Thompson.
"The celebration was just as good as the goal," he added.
The ladder after round 14 is: Eastern Lions 30, Bulleen 27, Langwarrin 23, Northcote City 23, Manningham United 18, GV Suns 16, Box Hill United 14, Melbourne City 14, Murray United 13, Springvale 12.
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