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Melbourne City scored inside the first two minutes and played the final quarter of the game with 10 men as they held on for a 1-0 away win over Newcastle.

New signings and a rookie goalkeeper provided the big moments as a 10-man Melbourne City shaded Newcastle 1-0 In their opening-round A-League Men clash.

A second-minute goal to Marco Tilio, loaned back to City from Scottish giants Celtic, was enough to win Saturday's feisty contest at McDonald Jones Stadium, which produced eight yellow cards and a red.

City were reduced to 10 players after Socceroo James Jeggo was sent off in the 70th minute for a stamp on Eli Adams.

Just a few minutes earlier Jeggo had been caught above the ankle by Jets captain Kosta Grozos, who was perhaps fortunate to get a yellow card rather than a red.

Socceroo Aziz Behich set up the goal with a surging run down the left.

His cross was headed back across goal by Israeli import and new signing Yonatan Cohen, with Tilio slotting home from close range after his initial header was blocked.    

Another feature of City's performance was the assured ALM debut of goalkeeper Patrick Beach, who was chosen ahead of highly respected veteran Jamie Young.

The Australian under-23 representative made fine first-half saves from an Aleksander Susnjar close-range shot and a curling free kick from Grozos.

Both sides had four shots on target.

Tilio came close to doubling his and City's tally in the third minute of the second half following a dazzling run and shot, which was tipped away by Jets goalkeeper Ryan Scott.

Newcastle pushed for an equaliser in the second half, with Adams, Lachlan Bayliss and substitute Clayton Taylor all having shots.