As it happened: Douglas Costa stars on debut as Sydney FC wins 5-0 in AFC Champions League 2 opener
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Sydney FC do it easy over Eastern SC
Douglas Costa has marked his debut on Australian shores in style, playing a lead role in Sydney FC’s 5-0 Asian Champions League 2 win over Eastern SC.
The Brazilian international is arguably the most high-profile name to land in Australia since the days of Alessandro Del Piero.
Douglas Costa poses with fans after the match.Credit: Getty Images
And on first glance, the former Juventus winger looks set to live up to his glittering CV.
Costa got through 68 minutes in his Sydney bow on Thursday in front of a 4021-strong crowd at Jubilee Oval that featured a number of Brazilian flags.
The ex-Bayern Munich star had a hand in all of Sydney’s first three goals before being taken off by Sky Blues boss Ufuk Talay.
The comfortable win over the Hong Kong side ensures Sydney go top of their group, which also includes Filipino side Kaya FC and J-League title contenders Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Anas Ouahim celebrates one of his goals.Credit: Getty Images
While the scoreline suggests Sydney had things all their own way, they had to fight for the breakthrough and survived a handful of early scares from Víctor Bertomeu.
Back-up goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares, who was handed the gloves by Talay as Andrew Redmayne recovers from concussion, proved more than a match for Eastern’s Spanish import.
Eventually, Sydney got their breakthrough in the 33rd minute when Costa played a sumptuous ball through the heart of the Eastern defence.
An on-rushing Rhyan Grant got there first and found Sydney’s new Moroccan midfielder Anas Ouahim, who tucked in from close range.
Then from a short corner just before halftime, Costa whipped in a ball that found Grant in space and the Sydney skipper was on hand to finish.
Leading 2-0 at halftime, Sydney showed no indication of shutting up shop and it wasn’t long before Ouahim had a second.
Again, Costa played a role, threading a pass through heavy traffic that found Polish frontman Patryk Klimala, who flicked on for Ouahim to finish in the 55th minute.
Klimala missed a second-half penalty but that didn’t stop the Sky Blues from adding more to their tally, own goals from Daniel Almazan and Leung Chun Pong further strengthening Sydney’s victory.
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FULL-TIME: Sydney wins 5-0
That’s it. The final whistle has gone. It’s a comfortable win for Sydney FC, who prevail 5-0 over Eastern Sports Club in their opening AFC Champions League 2 fixture.
That couldn’t have gone much better for Ufuk Talay’s men. Douglas Costa looked fantastic on debut, but so did their other new imports: Leo Sena, Patryk Klimala and Anas Ouahim, who finished with a brace, and could have had a hat-trick but for a saved penalty. They all looked rather formidable tonight.
It’s early days and the opposition here was clearly second-rate (with respect to our Hongkonger readers) but the signs are positive for the Sky Blues ahead of the new A-League season, which is only a few weeks away.
It should be 6-0
…but Joe Lolley has just flashed a header over the bar. The goal was open for him. It was easier to score than miss there, surely. We’ll call that pre-season rustiness.
Sydney FC 5-0 Eastern SC, 87 minutes
Well, this has been fun
Fair to say, though, that the sting has gone out of this game. The result is obviously decided and the main attraction – Douglas Costa – is off. Aside from Max Burgess running around doing Max Burgess things, it looks like most players on the park are eager to hear the final whistle. So am I.
Sydney FC 5-0 Eastern SC, 81 minutes
Another own goal – it’s 5-0
Well, that’s an instant impact. Seconds after coming on, Max Burgess tries to save a teammate’s deflected shot, which was trickling out for a corner kick… so Burgess runs after it, tries to cross the ball in from the byline, right next to the goal, and it goes in off an Eastern SC defender.
Boom.
Sydney FC 5-0 Eastern SC, 72 minutes
That’ll be it from Douglas Costa
A terrific first night out for Douglas Costa, who has just come off the ground after 68 minutes. His replacement is Max Burgess, who definitely has Brazilian vibes about him anyway, so hopefully he picks up where DC left off.
In other news, tonight’s crowd is 4021. See! I told you! There are people here! And the atmosphere is good!
Sydney FC 4-0 Eastern SC, 70 minutes
Own goal makes it four-zip
Alright, it’s 4-0 now, thanks to an own goal. Daniel Almazan Vera just accidentally headed Joe Lolley’s cross from the right past his goalkeeper and into the back of the net. It’s that sort of night for Eastern SC.
Sydney FC 4-0 Eastern SC, 64 minutes
Ouahim misses a penalty!
Referee Thorio Munir Alkatiri blows his whistle – that’s a clear penalty for Sydney FC, as Rhyan Grant is tackled to the ground as if this was a St. George Illawarra match. Not sure what that bloke was thinking there, but he got the sport all wrong.
Anyway. Anas Ouahim takes the penalty and… it’s saved! Eastern SC let off the hook!
Sydney FC 3-0 Eastern SC, 61 minutes
Goal number three for Sydney FC!
It’s 3-0 now and Douglas Costa was involved again! Another secondary assist for him – Costa drilled a pass towards the top of the box to Patryk Klimala, who flicked it on immediately to Anas Ouahim, and he has a brace! The three new boys combine brilliantly.
The Sky Blues are doing it easy here.
Sydney FC 3-0 Eastern SC, 55 minutes
Shot on target for Douglas Costa
He found some space on his left foot and went ping from well outside the box – that had some fizz on it, but it’s safely into the arms of the Eastern SC goalkeeper.
Sydney FC 2-0 Eastern SC, 51 minutes
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