Eastern SC come to visit Sydney for the first matchday of the AFC Champions League 2.
They will become the first club in Hong Kong to compete in Australia and this is their story.
History
They were formed 92 years ago and were known simply as Eastern and joined the Hong Kong First Division for the first time in 1936. They went onto lift their first piece of silverware in 1940, lifting the Senior Sheild with a 2-1 victory over South China.
They lifted their first league title in 1956 after many years of going close in the Hong Kong division.
Bizarrely, their notable marquee in their history is former England World Cup Winner and captain Bobby Moore who was the manager during the 1981/82 season.
Eastern started their dynasty in the early 90s where they won three league titles in a row and swept up the Hong Kong cup during that time too.
Fast forwarding to 2017/18, they became the first Hong Kong side to enter the AFC Champions League Elite and they also made history during that time by being coached by a female and becoming the first side to win a top flight title under the tutelage of a female coach.
In 2023, they rebranded to their current name, Eastern Sports Club.
Stadium
Eastern SC play their football in the Mong Kok Stadium in Hong Kong which is a small venue that fits their fan base, holding up to 6,664 people with four stands.
During their time in the AFC Champions League Elite in 2017, they sold out all three of their home matches and it was formally known as the Army Sports Ground before 1961.
Current Season
Eastern SC are two matches into their 2024/25 Hong Kong Premier League campaign and boast two wins to their name already.
They beat Hong Kong Rangers 2-0 and come into this clash with a 5-1 victory over North District last Thursday. They then flew to Australia on Saturday and have been in the country since then.
They come into the AFC Champions League 2 having won the Hong Kong Cup last season and finishing third in the league.
Foreign Players
Eastern have seven foreigners in their side and bring a few of them to Australia for this clash. They have a Scot in Calum Hall and four spanish players in Noah Baffoe, Victor Bertomeu, Daniel Almazan and Marcos Gondra.
Plus, they have Krgyzstan defender Tamirlan Kozubayev and Brazilian Felipe Sa however the Brazilian isn’t travelling due to injury and won’t be in the matchday squad.
They are coached by former Hong Kong player Roberto Losada.
Match Details
Sydney FC v Eastern SC
AFC Champions League 2
Thursday 19th September 2024
Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah, NSW
Kick Off: 8:00pm AEST
Gates Open: 7:00pm AEST
Broadcast Live: 10Play
Tickets: Click Here
