Melbourne: A Newcastle United side brimming with youngsters endured a humiliating 8-0 defeat against an A-League All Stars team in Melbourne on Friday, marking a dismal end to their season.

The rout began early with Ben Old netting in the fifth minute, followed by Nicolas Milanovic and Adam Taggart extending the lead to 3-0 by halftime at Docklands Stadium. A string of defensive errors, coupled with the absence of senior players, saw Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Jake Hollman, Jordan Courtney-Perkins, and Bozhidar Kraev pile on further goals. Manager Eddie Howe, who had rested key players and given youth a chance, acknowledged the gap in experience and the costly mistakes that plagued his side.

Despite the embarrassment, Howe defended his decision to field a young squad, citing the risks of injury and the need for rotation after their midweek penalty shootout win over Tottenham. He emphasised the importance of reflection and growth for the young players after this harsh lesson in Melbourne.