MOUSSA SISSOKO scored his first goal of pre-season, but the strike was unable to prevent Newcastle slipping to a 2-1 defeat to Mexican side Club Atlas in the first game of their American tour.

Gonzalo Bergessio's early double condemned the Magpies to defeat in Milwaukee, although Steve McClaren's side at least showed a degree of spirit to avoid an even heavier defeat.

Steve McClaren named the same outfield line-up that kicked off last week's friendly at Gateshead, but Newcastle fell behind in the 11th minute as former Nottingham Forest defender Jamaal Lascelles conceded a penalty that was converted by Bergessio.

Club Atlas doubled their lead shortly after, with Bergessio lobbing Tim Krul, and only the crossbar prevented the striker completing an 11-minute hat-trick.

Newcastle gradually hauled themselves back in the game, and they reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time as Sissoko's crisp one-two with Papiss Cisse enabled him to slot home from ten yards.

The Magpies thought they had equalised through Cisse at the start of the second half, but the ball had not crossed the line, before Rolando Aarons went close with a decent effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Club Atlas: Pinto, Tabó (Barragan 79), Medina (Hernandez 72), Pineda, Kannemann (Arreola 70), Valenzuela (Baloy 82), Zárate (Telles 82), Leao (Salinas 77), Loboa (Godinez 82), Bergessio (Caballero 70), Arizala (Vigon 55)

Newcastle: Krul (Darlow 46), Janmaat (Bigirimana 72), Williamson, Lascelles, Haidara (Ferguson 72), Anita, Colback, Sissoko (Obertan 72), De Jong (Perez 72), Gouffran (Aarons 72), Cisse (Armstrong 72).