Newcastle United Under-19s 2 FC Barcelona Under-19s 3 | OneFootball

The Toon teenagers fell behind in the first-half at Whitley Park, with Xavi Espart's close-range finish opening the scoring for the Spanish outfit before Oscar Gistau's quick-fire brace on the stroke of half-time extended the visitors' lead.

Leo Shahar's impressive free-kick after the restart gave United a lifeline before Kacey Wooster's terrific finish set up a tense finale but, despite a spirited second-half display, the young Magpies were edged out in an entertaining five-goal encounter.

With former Newcastle and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert in attendance, Magpies goalkeeper George Mair produced the first save of the afternoon as the 15-year-old goalkeeper, who made his England Under-17s debut earlier this month, held Sama Nomoko's low drive from the edge of the penalty area.

However, in the 23rd minute, Barça took the lead through Espart as the central midfielder arrived onto Oscar Gistau' low pass inside the box before sliding a low first-time shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

Sean Neave, who has scored four times in his opening five matches at under-21 level, went close to equalising for the hosts as the Winlaton-born forward, who made his first-team debut for his boyhood club in a pre-season friendly against Celtic FC, latched onto Kyle Fitzgerald's inviting pass, following a positive run from the Irish winger, before drilling a fierce effort wide of the right-hand post.

Mair produced a strong stop to deny Shane Kluivert, son of Champions League winner Patrick, from doubling Barcelona's advantage after the teenage 'keeper beat away the Dutch winger's ferocious drive towards goal.

Anthony Munda, who joined Newcastle's Academy as a nine-year-old, was unable to draw United's youngsters level as the Cowgate-born midfielder completed a strong run towards the penalty area before directing his attempt wide of the target.

Newcastle suffered a tough blow in the 44th minute as Gistau scored Barcelona's second goal of the afternoon, controlling Pedro Rodriguez's pass on the egde of the box before guiding an impressive strike into the top left-hand corner.

In the third minute of additional time, Newcastle conceded a third goal as Gistau capitalised on Mair's attempted clearance following a weak back pass to the teenage 'keeper, before lifting the ball into the net from distance.

Newcastle pulled a goal back in the 51st minute through Shahar's free-kick as the Magpies skipper, a representative of England at under-19 level, raced onto Fitzgerald's lay-off before firing a terrific strike beyond Barcelona goalkeeper Eder Aller.

Barça almost restored their three-goal cushion after the hour mark as Espart collected the ball inside the box before the Spanish teenager's drilled effort struck the outside of the right-hand post.

Seung-soo Park, introduced from the substitutes' bench, almost made a goalscoring impact as the South Korean winger, who joined the Magpies from Suwon Bluewings in July, collected Neave's pass following a positive run from the 18-year-old striker but flashed the resulting effort wide of the target.

Kacey Wooster looked to halved the deficit for the hosts after racing onto Neave's neat pass before slotting the ball beyond Aller but the promising striker's effort was disallowed after being adjudged to have strayed into an offside position.

The 17-year-old forward, though, set up a grandstand finish after getting his name on the scoresheet in the 81st minute. After Park's neat pass found its way into Dylan Charlton's path on the left-back, the Gateshead-born full-back picked out Wooster, who produced an excellent touch inside the box before firing the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

Neave went close to completing an incredible fightback in the fourth minute of stoppage-time as the England Under-18 international connected with Charlton's inviting cross from the left flank but saw his header fly narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

Newcastle's youngsters are back in UEFA Youth League action on Wednesday, 1st October when facing an away clash against Union Saint-Gilloise.

Newcastle United Under-19s: George Mair, Scott Bailey, Dylan Charlton, Kyle Fitzgerald (Mohamed Waddani 69), Anthony Munda (Seung-soo Park 69), Joe Brayson (Sam Alabi 52), Leo Shahar (c), Sean Neave, Logan Watts (Aaron Epia 59), Henry Johnson, Rory Finneran (Kacey Wooster 69).

Subs not used: Roman Dowell, Baran Yildiz, Oliver Goodbrand, Guy Bloomer.