Newcastle United's post-season trip to Australia comes to an end this morning when they face an A-League All-Star XI at the Marvel Stadium. It's the second game Down Under for Eddie Howe's Magpies after their 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Wednesday.
It's likely to be another mix of first-team stars and youngsters today, with Australian Garang Kuol likely to be given another chance to impress in front of his home crowd. Another big turnout is expected, with this game preceding the game between the All Stars Women and Women’s Super League giants Arsenal.
Lee Ryder is in Melbourne to bring you all the build up to today's game, plus the action as it happens and all the post-match reaction and analysis. Following today's game, Howe's squad are jetting back to the UK for a well deserved break before pre-season gets under way in July.
A poor end to the trip...
Not the way Howe will have wanted this trip to end.
A really dismal morning/evening for #NUFC, who end their Oz tour with a 8-0 thumping.
— Aaron Stokes (@AaronJStokes) May 24, 2024
Only a few youngsters to come out of that positively but you have to wonder why the likes of Dummett, Ritchie, Barnes, Murphy and Wilson were if they haven’t been sent home…
And it's over
Thank god for that.
It finished 8-0 to the Australia All Stars. A morning/evening to forget for Howe and his youngsters!
It's 8-0...
Wow. We're into added time but it's too easy yet again.
Kraev chips Harris after a lovely through ball. Newcastle's young, inexperienced defence all over the shop.
Tight offside but no VAR. Not that it matters.
Seven...
It's dismal defending from the young guns. Corner swung in, Aus XI win the first header and Perkins is unmarked at the back stick.
7-0. Friendly or not, this has been awful.
It's six
Newcastle lose the ball in their own final third again.
Irankunda picks it up, squares the ball to Kraev and he unselfishly tees up Hollman.
Too easy.
6-0.
Irankunda impressing
You can see why Bayern Munich wanted him from Adelaide United. The sub has only been on a matter of minutes but just looks a cut above on that right-hand side. He's given young Charlton a lot to deal with.
Good save
Irankunda again causing trouble down the right but Stamatelopoulos' effort is saved by Harris. Parried clear.
Australia side pushing for more.
5-0 to the Oz XI
It's five. Susbstitute Irankunda races down the right and sends a lovely ball across the face of goal.
Stamatelopoulos simply cannot miss as he taps home from close range.
Irankunda is set to sign for Bayern Munich in the summer...
Old goes close
The midfielder wants a second goal but fluffs his chance. Newcastle lose the ball in a dangerous area but thankfully Old blasts over from the edge of the box after rushing his effort.
Four changes for the All Stars.
Newcastle change
Aidan Harris replaces Mark Gillespie in between the sticks.
A tough hour for the latter.
4-0 to the All Stars
The hour mark arrives and so does the All Stars' fourth goal.
Easy ball through to Stamatelopoulos in acres of space. He turns, shoots and beats Gillespie.
4-0.
Better half so far
Newcastle youngsters haven't exactly been peppering the All Stars' goal but they're keeping the ball well and looking openings. The home side did find the net once again but the flag went up for the second time so far this half.
Parkinson, Kuol and Diallo working tirelessly at the top end of the pitch, while Stanton enjoying a solid start since coming on at the break.
All Stars score again. Flag goes up
Gillespie comes a long way out of his goal, doesn't get there and the All Stars have a tap in to an empty goal.
Thankfully flag goes up.
We're under way once again
Second-half under way.
Stanton is on. Thompson off.
De Bolle on. Turner-Cooke off.
Half-time player ratings
Lee Ryder's half-time player ratings:
Mark Gillespie 8
Has kept the score down.
Harrison Ashby 5
Has struggled with the All-Stars troubling Newcastle down his side.
Ciaran Thompson 6
A poor clearance led to the third goal.
Alex Murphy 7
Has been the pick of the Toon defence despite their troubles.
Dylan Charlton 6
Unfortunate to see the ball loop up to allow the All Stars score a second.
Garang Kuol 7
Has had some positive attacking moments.
Travis Hernes 7
A sturdy display in midfield.
Jay Turner-Cooke 6
Plenty of coverage in the middle.
Joe White 5
Has not taken the game by scruff of the neck.
Amadou Diallo 5
No big moments.
Ben Parkinson 6
Starved of any service
Transfer latest
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Half-time Down Under
Eddie Howe will be happy to get his players in at the interval. The young Magpies have work to do in the second period.
3-0 at the break.
A tricky start
Newcastle's youth prospects being shown a thing or two by this experienced Australia outfit. Half-time approaching at the Marvel Stadium.
Kuol chance
All Stars lose the ball in their own six yard box as Kuol presses well. The ball comes loose and the Aussie national somehow sends the ball over the bar from close range.
Flag goes up, belatedly, for Parkinson's offside in the build up.
Newcastle trying to play out from the back
Thompson tried to calmly pass out from centre-back, seeking out a midfielder through the middle.
His pass is intercepted and Taggart picks the ball up on the edge of the area before leaving Gillespie routed to the spot.
3-0 to the All Stars
Another mistake at the back for Newcastle and this experienced Aussie side capitalise. The Magpies give it away cheaply and Gillespie is beaten.
3-0. Taggart scores.
Kuol's guest
Australia manager Graham Arnold is in attendance at the Marvel Stadium, no doubt keeping an eye on Garang Kuol.
The Newcastle youngster made the Qatar World Cup squad but has been featuring for the under-23s in recent months.
Old fires wide
The first goalscorer works the ball out of his feet, onto his left and fires wide. The home side seeking a third on the half hour mark.
Youngsters struggling
The lack of experience probably showing here for Newcastle. The youngsters are trying to keep the ball well but they're all at sea at the back.
Trippier, Hall and Anderson on the bench if needed.
Newcastle punished
Milanovic pounces after a mistake from young left-back Charlton. A cross in from the left bounces off the full-back and Milanovic gets to the ball before Gillespie to poke home from inside six yards.
2-0 as we approach the half hour mark.
2-0 to the All Stars
Moments after Newcastle go close at one end, they've conceded again. 2-0 to the Oz XI.
Newcastle's first effort
Kuol picks the ball up on the edge of the area and manages to get a shot off. Well saved.
Both posts hit
Should really be 2-0 to the All Stars. Newcastle knock it round at the back as the Oz XI press high. Gillespie scuffs a clearance, Milanovic pounces by intercepting before firing at goal.
Looks a certain goal but Gillespie gets a hand to it before the ball pings off both posts and the danger is cleared.
A big let off.
Gillespie saves
Jay O'Shea has a pop from the edge of the area. Nice play around the box by the All Stars before the Irishman fires at goal. Gillespie across to turn it for a corner.
