Manchester United moved six points clear at the top of the Women's Super League after Millie Turner's stoppage time header secured victory at Aston Villa on Friday evening.
They appeared set for a massive setback in their quest for a maiden WSL title when Rachel Daly scored twice in the first half for Villa, either side of a Leah Galton strike.
The England international now has 17 WSL goals this season, the joint most in the league.
However, Nikita Parris pulled United level again on the hour mark, before Turner powered in a Katie Zelem free kick in the fourth minute of added time to seal three points in one of the most exciting games of the season.
Villa hit the bar twice, while United were denied a goal shortly before half-time due to a questionable foul on home goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
United are now six points ahead of Manchester City, who play on Sunday, while they are seven clear of reigning champions Chelsea, who do not play this weekend due to Champions League commitments and now have three games in hand on the leaders.
Turner snatches win in scintillating game
Centre-back Turner has been key for a United defence which before tonight had kept more WSL clean sheets than concede league goals before this match.
However it is at the other end where she has perhaps made her two most important contributions this season with last gasp headers - away to Arsenal in November and then tonight.
It came right at the end of a game where United's dreams of a maiden WSL title - just five years after they were founded - appeared to be turning into a nightmare.
Not even the tightest back line in England could cope with Daly on this form for long periods, nor with Villa's threat from set-pieces.
United sold Lucy Staniforth to Villa in January. That sale appeared priceless to their title rivals when the midfielder's perfectly driven corner after nine minutes was met with a Daly header that looped over Mary Earps and inside the far post.
Staniforth almost repeated the trick midway through the first half, finding Anna Patten with an identical corner which the centre back guided just higher than Daly and off the crossbar.
The visitors were sparked into life by Daly's opener and levelled six minutes later through Galton, who evaded her marker and slid home Ona Batlle's superb low cross from the right.
United came close to taking the lead, Villa goalkeeper Hampton making a fine reaction save from Galton, however Daly was in irrepressible form.
Her swivelling volley from Maz Pacheco's low cross moved her level with City's Khadija Shaw in the WSL Golden Boot table.
United throw down gauntlet to chasers
Pacheco looked to be narrowly offside before swinging in the cross, however the absence of VAR in the WSL ensured frustration for Marc Skinner.
The United boss was in full finger-wagging fury when Hayley Ladd headed in a corner shortly before half-time, only for it to be disallowed due to a foul by Galton on Hampton where contact appeared minimal.
However, they did equalise when Parris powered home a close range header - before Turner was the late heroine.
With City not playing until Sunday, while Arsenal and Chelsea are not in WSL action this weekend, this was a perfect chance for United to put daylight between themselves and the title-chasing pack.
In the final seconds the light was cracked, and hopes of a potential double - with a first Women's FA Cup final coming up too - are alive.
Line-ups
Aston Villa Women
Formation 4-3-3
1Hampton
2Mayling15Patten14Turner33Pacheco
10Dali12Staniforth31Littlejohn
19Blindkilde Brown8Daly88Nobbs
1Hampton2Mayling15Patten14Turner33PachecoBooked at 90mins10Dali12StaniforthBooked at 27mins31LittlejohnBooked at 32minsSubstituted forLehmannat 63'minutes19Blindkilde Brown8Daly88NobbsBooked at 11minsSubstitutes
4Allen7Lehmann11Boye-Hlorkah21Leat22Magill24KeitleyMan Utd Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
27Earps
2Batlle15Le Tissier5Mannion6Blundell
12Ladd10Zelem
22Parris7Toone11Galton
23Russo
27Earps2Batlle15Le Tissier5MannionSubstituted forTurnerat 87'minutes6Blundell12Ladd10ZelemBooked at 70mins22ParrisSubstituted forThomasat 77'minutes7TooneSubstituted forBøe Risaat 90+1'minutes11GaltonSubstituted forGarcíaat 77'minutes23RussoSubstituted forWilliamsat 77'minutesSubstitutes
8Bøe Risa9Thomas14Riviere17García20Tounkara21Turner28Williams29Cascarino32BaggaleyReferee:Lisa BennAttendance:4,176Live Text
Match ends, Aston Villa Women 2, Manchester United Women 3.
Second Half ends, Aston Villa Women 2, Manchester United Women 3.
Goal! Aston Villa Women 2, Manchester United Women 3. Millie Turner (Manchester United Women) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Katie Zelem with a cross following a set piece situation.
Vilde Bøe Risa (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women).
Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Manchester United Women. Vilde Bøe Risa replaces Ella Toone.
Foul by Katie Zelem (Manchester United Women).
Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ona Batlle.
Substitution, Manchester United Women. Millie Turner replaces Aoife Mannion.
Attempt missed. Martha Thomas (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rachel Williams.
Attempt blocked. Ella Toone (Manchester United Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucía García.
Offside, Aston Villa Women. Lucy Staniforth tries a through ball, but Jordan Nobbs is caught offside.
Offside, Aston Villa Women. Hannah Hampton tries a through ball, but Rachel Daly is caught offside.
Offside, Manchester United Women. Ella Toone tries a through ball, but Rachel Williams is caught offside.
Offside, Manchester United Women. Mary Earps tries a through ball, but Lucía García is caught offside.
Offside, Aston Villa Women. Hannah Hampton tries a through ball, but Alisha Lehmann is caught offside.
Foul by Rachel Williams (Manchester United Women).
Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
