Match ends, Oldham Athletic 5, Peterborough United 4.
OldhamOldham Athletic5PeterboroughPeterborough United4
Oldham staged a stunning comeback to beat Peterborough in a nine-goal thriller in League One.
Britt Assombalonga, Tommy Rowe and Lee Tomlin put Posh 3-0 up.
But after the break Gary Harkins and David Worrall replied for the Latics, before Nicky Ajose added Posh's fourth.
A James Wesolowski goal and a Harkins' penalty - after Lee Tomlin saw red for handling on the line - followed by Genseric Kusunga's late effort completed Oldham's dramatic turnaround.
Posh were on the right side of a goal-fest on Tuesday, but after coasting into the break with a three-goal cushion they were unprepared for the never-say-die response of Lee Johnson's men.
The memorable result hoisted the Latics four points clear of the relegation zone and saw Posh drop out of the play-off places on goal difference.
Posh had struck as early as the fifth minute when Assombalonga nodded in Ajose's cross and only looked to get stronger as Rowe headed in a corner and Tomlin applied a first-time finish to Danny Swanson's pass.
But the Latics were ruthless after the break, with the instrumental Harkins turning in a corner and Worrall finishing superbly from 20 yards.
The home side looked to have undone their good work when Ajose collected a wayward Oldham throw-in to tap into an empty net.
But Wesolowski fired in against his former club before Tomlin received his third red card of the season when stopping James Tarkowski's goal-bound effort with his hand.
Harkins converted the subsequent penalty before Kusunga was on hand in a crowded six-yard box to notch his first league goal for the Latics and secure a remarkable victory in the dying moments.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Oldham manager Lee Johnson told BBC Radio Manchester:
"What a fantastic day for the fans. We were woeful in the first half and at half-time we hit rock bottom and fair play to the lads, I've got to say what great character and attitude and heart to produce that second-half display and score five goals.
"I think sometimes you've got to make bold decisions. You could say I got it wrong if you like with my starting 11, that would be fair to say.
"Sometimes you've just got to hold your hands up and say alright it hasn't worked. Tactically I don't think we were at it in the first half hour.
"This day was about an unbelievable game and unbelievable entertainment and that's why we all love football because stuff like that can happen."
Line-ups
Oldham
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Oxley
- 8Smith
- 3Grounds
- 4Wesolowski
- 5KusungaBooked at 90mins
- 6Tarkowski
- 28Worrall
- 30Harkins
- 10MacDonald
- 27PhilliskirkSubstituted forClarke-Harrisat 34'minutes
- 19DaytonSubstituted forBrownat 34'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 2Brown
- 12Mellor
- 14Clarke-Harris
- 15Winchester
- 17Rodgers
- 18Lockwood
- 29Rachubka
Peterborough
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Day
- 31LittleSubstituted forBrisleyat 56'minutes
- 20Knight-Percival
- 8PayneSubstituted forAndersonat 64'minutes
- 6Bostwick
- 2Alcock
- 7Swanson
- 14Rowe
- 10TomlinBooked at 88mins
- 21Ajose
- 9Assombalonga
Substitutes
- 1Olejnik
- 4Brisley
- 11McCann
- 12Vassell
- 15Anderson
- 16Kearns
- 17Newell
- Referee:
- Richard Clark
- Attendance:
- 3,571
Match Stats
Home TeamOldhamAway TeamPeterborough
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away7
- Corners
- Home9
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Oldham Athletic 5, Peterborough United 4.
Booking
Genséric Kusunga (Oldham Athletic) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Booking
Connor Brown (Oldham Athletic) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal!
Goal! Oldham Athletic 5, Peterborough United 4. Genséric Kusunga (Oldham Athletic) left footed shot from very close range to the top left corner.
Post update
Corner, Oldham Athletic. Conceded by Jermaine Anderson.
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Connor Brown (Oldham Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Danny Swanson (Peterborough United).
Goal!
Goal! Oldham Athletic 4, Peterborough United 4. Gary Harkins (Oldham Athletic) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
Dismissal
Lee Tomlin (Peterborough United) is shown the red card for hand ball.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James Tarkowski (Oldham Athletic) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked.
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Corner, Oldham Athletic. Conceded by Michael Bostwick.
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David Worrall (Oldham Athletic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Nathaniel Knight-Percival (Peterborough United).
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Attempt saved. Tommy Rowe (Peterborough United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt blocked. Nicholas Ajose (Peterborough United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Foul by David Worrall (Oldham Athletic).
Post update
Nathaniel Knight-Percival (Peterborough United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lee Tomlin (Peterborough United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner.
Post update
Corner, Oldham Athletic. Conceded by Nathaniel Knight-Percival.
