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The first ever A-Leagues All Stars double-header has ended with mixed fortunes as the women's side were beaten 1-0 by English giants Arsenal, while the men's team stormed to an 8-0 win over an inexperienced Newcastle United in Melbourne.
The night kicked off with the men's match, where several A-League Men players putting their hands up for Socceroos contention as head coach Graham Arnold watched from the stands.
Wellington Phoenix winger Ben Old opened the scoring in the fifth minute, with the impressive Nicolas Milanovic from Western Sydney Wanderers adding a second 20 minutes later.
Socceroos striker Adam Taggart netted in the 34th minute, while Newcastle Jets forward Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who is eyeing a maiden national team call-up, scored twice in the 62nd and 74th minute.
Jake Hollman, Jordan Courtney-Perkins, and Bozhidar Kraev all added to the scoresheet late to round out the thrashing.
Socceroos attacker Mathew Leckie impressed against a young Newcastle United side.(Getty Images: Quinn Rooney)
Bayern Munich-bound Nestory Irankunda, who was arguably the headline act in the pre-match media this week, was surprisingly limited to a 20-minute cameo off the bench, but was electric as soon as he came on, setting up a number of goals as he ran at a young, tired defence.
Newcastle United's senior players largely departed Australia after Wednesday night's friendly against Tottenham, while Kisnorbo fielded a much more experienced and match-fit team.
An hour after full-time, the women's All Star match kicked off in front of 42,000 screaming fans.
All three of Arsenal's Matildas – Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Caitlin Foord – started the match, lining up against several of their Australian team-mates including Cortnee Vine, Michelle Heyman, Tameka Yallop, and retiring goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who received a standing ovation at half-time when she was substituted for youngster Jada Whyman.
Arsenal were the dominant side from the opening minutes, but struggled to unlock a stubborn All Stars defence anchored by New Zealand international Rebekah Stott and Melbourne Victory captain Kayla Morrison.
Foord was a particularly dangerous threat down the left wing, but it was Arsenal young gun Vivianne Lia whose deadly, direct cross finally found the head of Alessia Russo in the 39th minute to put the Gunners ahead.
Steph Catley was substituted at half-time, while Kyra Cooney-Cross went down with cramp in the second half before coming off, though the Matildas midfielder was jovial on the ground, smiling on the big screen and laughing with the physiotherapists.
Vine offered the All Stars side their most effective attacking outlet down the right, but met her match in Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe, who did not shy away from physical challenges to cut down the speedy Matildas winger.
The All Stars struggled to create any convincing chances, and largely relied on Arsenal errors to catch a glimpse of goal.
They could have equalised in the 88th minute after Sydney FC midfielder Mackenzie Hawkesby slid a ball in behind for Kiwi Hannah Wilkinson to charge onto, but her shot was brilliantly saved by young Arsenal goalkeeper Naomi Williams.
Several of the players have been called up to the Matildas for two friendlies against China on May 31 and June 3.
Check out how both games unfolded in our liveblog below.
Final thoughts
And so our first ever A-League Women All Stars game draws to a close with an impressive Arsenal side emerging victorious thanks to an Alessia Russo header.
You gotta say, Arsenal are different gravy. They played with such intensity, control, and understanding between each other, while the All Stars gang did themselves proud given they had just two weeks to prepare.
We'll have a match report wrapping up the match later tonight, but for now, thanks so much for joining me on the blog for this All Stars double-header!
I'll be back here tomorrow night to take you through the A-League Men grand final between the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory, and then later this month as the Matildas take on China in a two-game friendly series.
Until then, enjoy your weekends!
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Full time: All Stars 0 - 1 Arsenal
Is Adam right?
Arsenal have looked more in control throughout the match both possession-wise and in terms of being clinical with their chances, hopefully the All Stars can capitalise late despite being stifled by top-tier European opposition.
- Adam
We've got two minutes to find out...
Four minutes of added time
88' Chance All Stars!!!
The biggest chance of the game for the home side goes begging!
A counter-attack by the All Stars sees the ball fall to Mackenzie Hawkesby, who looks up and sends a pass in behind Arsenal's young centre-back Goldie.
Hannah Wilkinson STORMS between all of them and finds herself with the ball at her feet, near the top of the box, nobody to either side, with just Williams to beat.
She takes a touch to her left and unleashes a shot, but Williams makes an excellent diving save to keep it out of her net.
Huge moment. The young keeper may have just won her side this game.
87' Ibini tries a Hail Mary
An attempted clearance by Arsenal's young keeper Williams through a flock of Melbourne seagulls totally misses the target and instead falls to the feet of Princess Ibini, who takes one glance up and sees Williams still off her line.
She thinks to herself: well, screw it, and curls her leg back to try and launch the ball over everybody.
But she doesn't get the power she needs on it and it goes straight back to Williams.
85' Arsenal keep probing for a second
Their young substitutes have been lively so far, with Godfrey making a great run just now onto a through-ball into the box.
The winger is challenged by Kayla Morrison and tumbles into the grass, with the commentators asking whether that shouldn't have been a penalty.
The replay shows there wasn't much in it. The referee signals for a corner, which is cleared away.
82' Arsenal substitutions
Caitlin Foord receives a big applause as she comes off the field, as does Katherine Kuhl, who's been terrific.
Maddy Earl and Freya Godfrey come on in their place.
79' Caitlin Foord is tiring
She's been the main attacking outlet for Arsenal today, and has ripped shreds off every full-back she's faced.
Even now, against the substitute Danika Matos, she's playing her own little games, trying to bait the full-back into lunging so she can dink past her and into the box.
But Matos stands strong and prevents Foord from executing a nut-meg, getting her body in between the winger and the ball such that Foord pulls her down into the grass, giving away a free kick.
78' All Stars substitutions
Michelle Heyman is replaced by Hannah Wilkinson, while Cortnee Vine is replaced by Sydney FC team-mate Princess Ibini.
