Coach Arthur Papas focused on the positives of another comeback to snatch an away draw, ahead of a return home against Wellington on Friday night, after Valentino Yuel inspired Newcastle to a 2-2 result against Sydney FC on Saturday night.
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Yuel starred with a brace, lifting Newcastle from a 2-0 half-time deficit in a pulsating clash at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. The draw left both sides winless and on two points after three rounds.
In-form Yuel, who scored in the round-one loss to Central Coast and set up Olivier Boumal last week in a 2-2 draw with Wanderers, gave the visitors hope in the 58th minute. Daniel Penha put Yuel into space with a through ball and he finished with his left foot. He was ruled offside but the decision was reversed on review.
He then fired the Jets level in the 65th minute with a thunderous shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle after evading Socceroo Rhyan Grant.
Sydney looked to have regained the lead in the 77th minute when Adam Le Fondre scored after an earlier shot was blocked by Jordan Elsey. However, the goal was controversially ruled out because of offside on review.
The hosts led in the ninth minute after Le Fondre earned and slotted a penalty, awarded after a diving Jack Duncan caught his legs as he rounded the keeper. Le Fondre then found an unmarked Elvis Kamsoba, who tapped in on the half hour.
The Jets attack was impressive, but questions were raised again about their defence as they try to execute Papas' possession-based style. The coach, though, was proud of the performance, belief and intent of his players. He said their unity, spirit and conviction made him optimistic about the future.
"It's always easy to always focus on the negative, that you've conceded two goals, but we have scored two goals the last two games as well, away from home against quality opponents, and I believe we can score more," Papas said.
"My message to the players has been consistent from day one. We want to change the identity of this team, this club, and to do that we need to be braver in the way we play, more aggressive and we want to have the spirit that regardless of what the score is we are always trying to be on the front foot, and with that comes certain risks.
"Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. I think we could have defended both situations better, that's for sure. But when you play Sydney FC and they are 2-0 up, I don't think there's many games where anyone's got back into the game over the last few years."
Yuel earned man of the match honours for his brace, continuing a steep rise already this campaign after coming off the bench in round one.
However, the 27-year-old made a similar start last season, scoring four goals in the opening seven rounds before failing to add to his tally.
Papas said the challenge for Yuel was to keep improving.
"I known Val from prior to coming to Newcastle and I know what his capabilities are and I don't think he's reached anywhere near what his ceiling is," Papas said.
"I think you saw him take on a very good fullback and really make it difficult for him, and it's all about getting outcomes as well, and at half-time we spoke about that because he had a very good chance in the first half.
"It's about not only having tricks and all these kind of things without any outcomes, it's about getting goals and setting up goals.
"I'm very happy for him but I think he's got a lot of improvement in him, and he knows it as well and he's working hard and that's what's important.
"Val's hard-working, and he's open to it, and he gets a reward and the challenge is to go do it again next week."
The biggest talking point, though, was Sydney's disallowed winner, which capped a frustrating night for Sydney coach Steve Corica.
"The third goal looked like a goal to me because it came off one of their players, so [Le Fondre] can't be offside," he said. "And he wasn't offside anyway. It's disappointing because I think the referee got a few decisions wrong.
"Their second goal was from 10 metres in front of where it should have been and it was rolling. Then he pulls up one of ours for the ball moving."
Papas was asked about the controversial non-goal and said: "You're on the end of some of them, and you're not on the end other times.
"We've been in that situation already, if we go back to the FFA Cup, we had a similar decision that on reflection was clearly an incorrect decision, but I haven't reviewed it.
"Obviously I can understand Steve's point and frustration, if he's had the opportunity to review it."
Duncan bounced back from his early mistake to block great chances from Milos Ninkovic (46th minute) and Patrick Wood (85th).
Papas made one change to his starting line-up from the draw with Wanderers, bringing in Jordan O'Doherty for Kosta Grozos, whose mistakes in possession had cost Newcastle a goal in each of the opening two rounds.
"Coming in at half-time, whether we deserved to be 2-0 down, I think it was fairly even in the first half," Papas said.
"We knew if we turned the ball over in certain areas that they are very quick on the counterattack and we got punished for it.
"Then the second half, the response, I think it's fantastic.
"The spirit and belief to keep playing and not go changing the way you're playing because it's 2-0 down and all of a sudden you want to preserve and hopefully not lose by three of four. And instead just have that belief that you can back into the game."
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