NEWCASTLE, England (AFP) - Patrick Kluivert struck twice as Newcastle United got Graeme Souness`s reign at St James`s Park off to a stuttering start with a 2-0 win over Israeli Arab side Bnei Sakhnin in the UEFA Cup first round, first leg.
The Dutch striker scored both his goals in the first half, but Newcastle were far from convincing against the poverty-struck Israeli side and both sides finished with ten men.
Sakhnin, a team made up of Arabs and Jews, became the first Arab side to win the Israeli Cup last season and their reward was a place in Europe`s second-tier club tournament.
However, their hopes of causing a major shock were extinguished after just four minutes when Kluivert hit the opener.
The Dutch international, starting the tie in place of Alan Shearer who had been relegated to the bench, found the target with a close-range left foot drive after a cross from Laurent Robert.
The Magpies, whose struggles in the English Premiership led to the sacking of veteran coach Bobby Robson and the appointment of Souness, piled on the pressure but had to wait until four minutes from half-time to increase their lead.
Robert was again the provider as his corner was met by Kluivert who headed in from six yards.
But home hopes that the floodgates would open against a dispirited Sakhnin never materialised as the Middle East side defended doggedly.
Newcastle`s frustrations boiled over on the hour when Nicky Butt was sent-off for violent conduct and he was soon followed by Sakhnin`s Abas Soan for a crunching foul on Kluivert.
The visitors had a golden chance in the dying seconds to steal a crucial away goal ahead of the second leg tie on September 30 when Shlomi Edri saw his 35-yard drive well saved by Shay Given in the Newcastle goal.