City was left reeling 2-0 down in the first 15 minutes and the Lions went on to a 4-2 win.

There was little wrong when Knox was going forward but the team's fallibility in defence came back to haunt it when the defence conceded a goal in the third minute.

Knox keeper Chris Marshall copped a heavy knock while the goal was being scored but opted to stay on the field, which proved to be a mistake.

The Lions scored soon after with a soft shot that sneaked past the groggy goalkeeper. Marshall was substituted immediately after.

City's loud shout for a handball in the penalty area was turned down and a goal-bound shot was blocked on the line following a corner as the Lions looked to preserve their advantage before half-time.

However, Knox broke through just before the interval when Matt Evans made a telling run from the halfway line before sliding a perfect through ball between two defenders, allowing Julius Adeosun to score.

This good work was undone in the first minute after the interval when City's miserable defending allowed McEvoy to get to the goal line and his cross was stabbed home by O'Hare to restore the visitors' two-goal advantage.

Knox reduced the arrears again when Phil Ajao played a defence-splitting ball which found Adeosun in space and his inch-perfect cross was put away by the in-form Shayan Missaghi for his sixth goal in the past four games.

With the game deep in injury time, a high ball was palmed out by replacement keeper Jorgensen only to the edge of the area. From there it was played back in for Bouios to nod home and seal victory, moving the Lions into fourth place while Knox dropped a spot to fifth.

■ Knox City reserves beat Eastern Lions 1-0 in the opening match with a goal three minutes from time from defender Gary Bakker.

This week, Knox City plays away at Dandenong City.