PATRICK Hoban described Oxford United's friendly with Benfica B last night as a "learning curve" after the Portuguese side ran out 4-0 winners.

The team, who play in Portugal's second tier, were 2-0 up inside eight minutes with goals from Victor Andrade and Diogo Goncalves.

Andrade added his second from the penalty spot before half-time, before Elbio Alvarez completed the scoring 13 minutes from time.

Hoban has played in European competitions with former club Dundalk and was very impressed with the opposition's quality.

But the Irish striker, who completed his first 90 minutes in pre-season, felt United's players will have gained a lot from the game.

He said: "They were very technical and levels ahead, but it’s a good learning curve for everyone. 

"The first half we went in blind and didn’t know what they were like. 

"We were pressing them and they opened us up, but we had a couple of chances ourselves. 

"The lads can be proud of what they did in the second half."

U's boss Michael Appleton was left in no doubt several of the players they came up against would go on to play at the highest level.

He said: "It was a fantastic experience for all of them. 

"It was a situation where within five minutes they found themselves 2-0 down by a couple of errors. 

"That was the difference on the day – for as good as their players were they punished our errors and we didn’t punish theirs.

"I said to the players after the game ‘I’d be amazed if in 18 months' time you’re not watching two or three of their players in the Champions League for Benfica’s first team’."

Udanta Singh, on a month-long trial from Indian side Bengaluru FC, came off the bench late on.

United: Crocombe, Hawtin (Singh 85), Dunkley, Long, Grant, Ashby, Rose (George 70), Ruffels, O’Dowda (Cundy 75), Hoban, Roberts (Humphreys 70).