MELBOURNE Knights have reclaimed top spot in the Foxtel Cup after defeating the Richmond Eagles 3-2 in an exciting clash at Knights Stadium.

The Knights were trailing 2-1 at the half due to goals from Richie and Pablo Cardozo and an own goal from Eagle’s defender Stuart McCluskey, but a second half brace from striker Andrew Barisic gave the Knights all three points.

The Knights dominated early possession but it was Richmond who had the best early chance.

It came after Matthew Grbesa failed to deal with a deflected ball into the area in the 11th minute.

Richie Cardozo had the ball in plenty of space on the edge of the six yard box, but was too slow getting his shot away, giving Grbesa time to block it.

But Cardozo made no mistake five minutes later, latching on to a Nick Bahnsen cross, chesting the ball past Knights keeper Savas Ozdemir and tapping it home.

The Knights nearly found an immediate equaliser through Andrew Barisic.

Anthony Pelikan chipped over the top of the defence to Barisic, who volleyed with the outside of his foot but it was well saved by Richmond keeper Daniel Neesham, playing his first game.

And they had the equaliser on 24 minutes thanks to an own goal from Stuart McCluskey.

The defender deflected Ivan Franjic’s header into the back of his own net.

But Richmond soon found themselves in the lead again, this time thanks to Pablo Cardozo.

He was on hand to put away the rebound after Ozdemir had first saved Jesse Krncevic’s close range effort.

The Knights came out hard in the second half, and were back on level terms after 53 minutes thanks to Andrew Barisic.

The striker was on hand to head home from close range after Neesham failed to hang on to Joe Spiteri’s low shot.

The Knight’s continued to push forward in search of a winner, but nearly conceded one at the other end.

First Krncevic broke through the defence only to shoot across the face of goal, then Pablo Cardozo hit the crossbar with a powerful volley in the 78th minute.

But as Richmond tired it was the Knights who ultimately found the winner, Barisic getting his second in the 84th minute.

Substitute Zoran Petrevski broke away down the right hand side and crossed to the back post for Barisic to tap home the winner.

Barisic could have had a hat trick in the dying minutes as he again broke through the defence, but his first touch failed him as he closed in on goal.

But it mattered not in the end, the Knights taking all three points and reclaiming top spot from Green Gully.

Knights coach Chris Taylor was pleased to get all three points, but said his team made it hard for themselves.

“We made hard work of it, we have to come from behind all the time but it shows a bit of character,” Taylor said

“We’re the sort of side if we play for ten minutes we’re capable of scoring two or three goals, but while there’s only one goal the difference everyone’s in it,” he said.

“But full credit to Richmond, they battled well, they had some injuries, and they were probably unlucky not to get a point in the end.”