The New Zealand Knights have put off-field problems behind to produce a stunning 3-1 upset over A-League play-off contender Queensland in Auckland.

Under interim coach Ricki Herbert for just the second match, bottom-of-the-table New Zealand gave its best performance of the season to claim only its third win of this campaign, and its second against the Roar.

Recent signing John Tambouras got the Knights on the board in the opening spell, before early second-half goals from Neil Emblem and Alen Marcina sealed the result.

Substitute Ante Milicic grabbed a late consolation goal for the visitors.

It was the first time the Knights scored three goals in an A-League fixture in the competition's two seasons.

Queensland had begun the night just one point outside the top four, but it had to play second fiddle to the Knights, which under Herbert have begun to adopt more of a possession game.

The Knights' passing of the ball against the Roar even elicited chants of "ole" from parts of the sparse but vocal North Harbour Stadium crowd.

The Knights' opening goal came in the 14th minute from a set piece.

Queensland conceded a free kick when defender Remo Buess fouled Emblem, who was playing up front with Marcina rather than in his usual defensive role.

Winger Gao Leilei's freekick from just outside the right edge of the box was met by Tambouras, who headed into the net.

Tambouras, a Knight last season, was called into the present squad only before the previous club owners had their licence revoked.

Emblem made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute, controlling a cross from skipper Darren Bazeley with his thigh and then volleying home.

It got even better for the Knights five minutes later, when Roar keeper Liam Reddy failed to hold a 30m shot from midfielder Richard Johnson and Marcina was on hand to guide the loose ball home.

At the other end, the Knights were largely able to contain Queensland, which mostly had to rely on long-range efforts.

Home keeper Mark Pastons saved from Damian Mori in the first half, while Mori put wide a good chance in the second stanza.

The Roar's consolation goal came in the 80th minute, with Milicic slotting home from inside the box.

Paston then produced a superb stoppage time save from Matthew McKay.

Knights skipper Darren Bazeley described the Knights' performance as "top drawer", saying the players had gone out with the approach of having no fear, trying to knock the ball around and enjoying themselves.

"There was an attitude in the changing room like there has been towards the end of the training week of `let's play'," Bazeley said.

Herbert wasn't surprised at his team's display despite the uncertainty off the field.

"It's a professional football club," Herbert said.

"At the end of the day, the players, as we all do, have an obligation to perform and they have really taken that on through difficult times."

Queensland coach Frank Farina said the Knights deserved the win, but he bemoaned the way the Roar conceded its goals.

"We started flat and sluggish," he said.

"To give them a goal first-up was always going to make it difficult for us. The second two were just schoolboy errors.

"We missed a big opportunity tonight."

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