By Bill Molloy (@Bill_Molloy94)

Home fans were left ecstatic as Melbourne Knights triumphed 3-2 over reigning Victorian football champion Northcote City at Knights Stadium on Friday night.

Rodrigo Covarrubias netted a brace on debut, but it was Marijan Cvitkovic who cancelled out a late equalising penalty from Trent Rixon to seal the three points for the Knights in a thrilling contest.

Covarrubias converted the first chance of the game from a corner, giving the Knights an early lead. The ball fell loose in the penalty area, and the 20-year-old supplied the finishing touch.

Marino Gasparis found an equaliser for Northcote in brilliant fashion after 17 minutes however, firing in a volley from outside the box.

HIGHLIGHTS: Melbourne Knights v Northcote City

Gasparis could have had a second goal in the 24th minute, but his shot floated just over the crossbar.

Covarrubias thought he’d given Knights the lead again just before the half-hour mark as he found the finishing touch in a goalmouth scramble, but the ball had gone out for a goal kick prior to the opportunity.

His next chance counted, five minutes later, as he slotted in a goal from Tomislav Uskok’s low cross from the right.

Covarrubias had a chance to get a hat-trick on debut after 55 minutes, when Adrian Chiappetta brought Uskok down in the box, but Chris Theodoridis produced a brilliant save to deny the Knights’ new signing from the penalty spot.

Covarrubias had to settle for a brace after being replaced by Cvitkovic in the 71st minute.

With 10 minutes left, the game took a dramatic turn as the referee awarded another penalty, this time for Northcote.

Adrian Chiappetta’s attempt on goal struck a defender’s arm on the way through and Trent Rixon converted from the spot.

Substitute Cvitkovic regained the lead for the Knights just three minutes later. The goal proved to be the ultimate winner in what was an enthralling opening fixture.

Covarrubias said he relished his return to the Knights after his debut performance.

“Coming back to the club after a few years, it felt good and everyone gave 100 per cent,” Covarrubias said.

Covarrubias also made his desire to play clear, despite his physical soreness.

“I spoke to the physio beforehand and he asked me whether I wanted to play or not, and I said ‘of course I’m not going to shy away from the first game of the season’ so I gave it all I’ve got,” he said.

Northcote City coach Goran Lozanovski wasn’t pleased with his side’s defensive effort.

“In a coach’s sense it’s probably not the best. You try and keep a clean sheet if you can,” Lozanovski said.

Lozanovski was also quick to highlight the amount of off-season arrivals to the club.

“We’ve got seven new faces and six U20s boys from last year, so we probably haven’t had the time to jell as much as I really wanted to.”

MATCH DETAILS

FT: Melbourne Knights 3 (Covarrubias 6’ 35’, Cvitkovic 84’) defeated Northcote City 2 (Gasparis 17’, Rixon 81’ pen.)

HT: Melbourne Knights 2-1 Northcote City

Melbourne Knights: 1. Christopher May (GK) 3. Sam Torrens 4. Ben Surey (C) 5. Milan Batur 6. Tomislav Uskok 8. James McGarry 9. Jacob Colosimo (7. Christopher Talajic 90’) 11. Anthony Colosimo 13. Antun Kovacic 14. Rodrigo Covarrubias (10. Marijan Cvitvokic 71’) 19. Shayan Alinejad (17. Daniel Visevic 45’)

Unused Subs: 25 Michael O’Farrell (GK), 12. Ivan Grgic

Yellow Cards: Surey (13’), Kovacic (30’), Covarrubias (67’)

Northcote City: 22. Chris Theodoridis (GK) 21. Ersin Kaya 5. Phil Petreski 6. Jude Fitzpatrick 2. Adrian Chiappetta (C) 7. Jonathan Munoz (23. Jonathan Bounas 45’) 16. Greg Lombardo (12. Steve Sifinos 66’) 10. Marino Gasparis (14. Michael Catalano 74’) 11. Liam Wooding 9. Trent Rixon 15. Wade Dekker

Unused Subs: 1. Luke Gavalas (GK), 17. Aaron Ward

Yellow Cards: Fitzpatrick (26’), Rixon (37’), Chiappetta (54’), Bounas (68’)

Pictured: Rodrigo Covarrubias celebrates one of his two goals (image credit: Steve Starek)