BALLARAT was graced with soccer royalty in the shape of a full-strength Melbourne Victory outfit on Tuesday night.
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The star-studded Victory, headed by Kevin Muscat, treated the Ballarat Red Devils to a clinical 10-0 thumping in a pre-season friendly at Morshead Park.
Muscat said earlier in the week that his side would come to play, and his players didn't disappoint.
Connor Pain scored the opener just two minutes in with a dashing run that set the tone for the remainder of the match.
The visitors would pile on three more goals before the half was out.
Star Frenchman Matthieu Delpierre and Socceroo Carl Valeri were both taken off at the break, but not before amazing onlookers and Red Devils with their poise and skill.
Australia's favourite son Archie Thompson took to the field just moments before Pain scored his hat-trick.
From there, Victory just got better and better.
Mark Milligan found the back of the net to put his side 7-0 up at the 68-minute mark.
The Socceroo's goal seemed to spark Victory into nearly flawless football, with all the big guns firing inside the final 20 minutes.
Thompson drew the biggest roar of the night when he put Victory 9-0 up 83 minutes in, leaving Victory supporters chanting for a double-digit scoreline.
Kosta Barbarouses gladly obliged with the final goal just seconds before full-time.
Red Devils player manager James Robinson said the match, although friendly, was a huge coup for the growing Ballarat base.
"Victory are a world class team they're one of the top teams in A-League history so it was a great experience for the boys," Robinson said.
"It just goes to show what we're bringing down here now.
"We need to keep carrying that on and getting them down here." Meanwhile, Red Devils defender Liam Harding said the hit-out would hold the team in good stead for an end to the National Premier Leagues Victoria season.
"(It's a) massive step up, to play against the best in the world," he said.
"It's an exceptional experience to play against them and see where your standards are at.
"We all have to knuckle down and put it together as a team for these last few games put it up for this season, try and save the club (from relegation) and push on for next season."
michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au