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I’m thrilled for the players: Papas

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There was no man happier than Newcastle Jets coach Arthur Papas at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night.

After taking the reins of the Hunter-based A-League Men outfit during the off-season, the highly-regarded mentor celebrated his first victory in the top job.

A double from Beka Mikeltadze helped the team on its way to a resounding 4-0 triumph over the Wellington Phoenix.

It comes after an opening round 2-1 loss to the Central Coast Mariners, and 2-all draws with the Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC.

For Papas, he also enjoyed his maiden clean sheet of 2021/22 with his defence, which had conceded two goals in all three previous games, keeping the Phoenix frontline in check on home soil.

Mikeltadze, whose ability to dictate play and drop deep caused all sorts of problems for Wellington, scored either side of the break with two finishes from close range.

Dylan Murnane added a third for the hosts after some intricate work in the box from Brazilian import Daniel Penha in the 69th minute, before the latter completed the rout late on.

“It was more of a complete performance from start to finish” a delighted Papas said.

“I feel happy for the players because they’ve been working hard and persevering.

“Their belief has been consistent.

“And, they put on a performance at home which is important.

“I want them to enjoy that and understand there is no ceiling to what they can do.

“I thought we defended really well, we know we can score goals and we spoke about being more ruthless and defended as a team.”

Valentino Yuel was a menace down the left in the early stages but it was down the right through Olivier Boumal where the hosts got the breakthrough.

He moved towards the byline and with the Phoenix defence focused on the Cameroonian, Mikeltadze was able to drop off.

Boumal cut the ball back to the Georgian international who steered his effort home through a crowded goalmouth.

Newcastle nearly made it two before half-time when Penha and then later on Yuel were unable to convert. 

The Jets picked up where they left off after the break with Jordan Elsey glancing a header wide of the post before Mikeltadze added his second less than a minute later.

Newcastle was not done yet, and after he fired a 30-yard rocket onto the crossbar, Penha weaved his way through a sea of Phoenix defenders to play in Murnane, who coolly finished for his inaugural A-League goal.

Wellington had no response to the home side’s dominance and Ufuk Talay’s side were unresponsive to his instructions from the touchline as Penha notched the Jets’ fourth in the 80th minute.

  • with AAP

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