Sydney FC 5 Eastern Sports Club 0
A Thursday night in Kogarah doesn’t tend to stir much emotion, but when it’s your team’s first game of the season, the debut of at least one high-profile international marquee player and a return to a spiritual former home, this was a must-attend fixture. Sydney FC echoed the Socceroos’ last two showings in Arnie’s swansong in a first half hour that could have seen us behind on more than one occasion, despite totally dominating. Two goals before the break and then a Super Sydney FC show in the second half gave the raucous fans plenty to cheer, as the opening game of the 2024/25 season captured the imagination and sent us home with a smile. Football is back; it never really went away.
Getting from A to B in Sydney has become so much easier since the opening of the new tunnels, but that’s only if you can find your way into a tunnel in the first place. Leaving the City just after 6pm, our collective un-updated GPS apps and devices sent us through the backstreets of Drummoyne before eventually looping back into Rozelle and on an express route to Kogarah. We were parked up in the familiar backstreets in no time, passing a decent crowd of fans waiting to gain entry at the two open gates as we found our spot. The stroll up the street behind what used to be the Cove for three years was a walk up memory lane, and we were through Gate B and checking out the new merchandise with 45 minutes still remaining before kick off. That purple goalkeeper shirt looks smart.
Checking out the stadium, or at least the one side that was open, was another stroll through yesteryear, and the desire to leave this stadium when Allianz re-opened was replaced with a twinge of nostalgia. Seeing familiair faces was a treat. The hardcore fans are not only those in the Cove, but they are the fans that put everything aside to be at a relatively low-key Asian Champions League 2 fixture on a school night, simply because that’s what they do. The Sydney FC players came out in their funky new training shirts, the Eastern fans congregating at the opposite end of the main stand from the Cove, and there was a good presence for the Hong Kong outfit, fans bedecked in relica shirts and surrounded by flags of their favourite team. Conditions were beautiful, the hefty breeze from earlier in the day having calmed down. The atmosphere was growing. Andrew Redmayne was out for tonight, concussed was the rumour, so a chance to see a new goalkeeper in action.
We made our way to Section 12, and it soon became apparent that the Cove would be housed here and in the end Section 13. It was like a scene from the arrivals gate at the international terminal, like the end of the movie Love Actually, as members of the Cove family reunited with their brothers and sisters. The singing of the first chant, just before the players emerged, was beautiful, many of those present not having belted out a tune of any sort since Central Coast away in May. We Are Sydney was glorious as the players lined up for the handshakes, the blaring loud-speakers unable to quell the noise, and it continued through to kick off.
Of course, we didn’t know what to expect from either team here tonight. Sydney FC were patient, star man Douglas Costa trying to make his way down the right before switching to the left to see if there was more joy. Eastern were no push-over, and were happy to pour forward whenever they could. The space afforded to the less-fancied opponents was startling as first Harrison Devenish-Meares was forced into a low save, and then Joel King was caught out by a long ball and the Eastern striker lifted the ball just over the bar of the empty goal with the Sydney FC keeper completely marooned.
The Cove drum was worked to the maximum, a new world record speed achieved in the viking clap chant that was cheered at its climax. There was rowdiness and good-natured moshing from the Sydney youth as the supporter marshalls looked on unmoved. This was atmosphere.
Sydney looked sharp in possession without showing a cutting edge. Costa and Joe Lolley took aim but couldn’t find a clear opening for the curling shot when cutting in, and it was the fleet-footed Anas Ouahim, a player we’ve only seen once in a dismal loss at Oakleigh Cannons in the Australia Cup, who gave Sydney the lead. The goal was created by Costa’s patience, holding the ball as captain Rhyan Grant blazed into the box, and when he pulled the ball back, Ouahim took a touch and drilled the ball low into the net. The celebrations were long in the Cove. The unfortunately deliberate pronunciation slip-up in the goalscorer salute made for chuckles amongst the fans, and the Anas On Fire chant that followed was sung with much delight as the schoolyard humour continued.
Ten minutes later Sydney doubled their lead, and it was Costa in the left-hand corner who swung in a cross from absolutely nothing. Grant had already left his marker and met the ball perfectly, the ball nestling into the net past a desperate dive from the Eastern keeper. There was doubt as to whether or not this was a goal, due to the surprise nature of the cross and the lack of animated celebration, but it was a goal. ‘He’s got shit hair but we don’t care’, came the chant as our legendary captain took the acclaim for a very tidy headed goal.
Half time and there was just enough time to queue for liquid out and liquid in, and a quick catch up with our Cove Heights crew, and the players were back out ready to go. An Eastern player caught a shot beautifully on the volley taking out his teammate, but this was all Sydney FC now. The move of the match led to the third goal, and it had us watching on in amazement. Costa with the no look pass, Patryck Klimala with the instant flick into the path of Ouahim, and an expert finish from the Morrocan / German livewire completed the blistering move. Anas On Fire.
Grant was manhandled to the floor from a corner to earn a stonewall penalty, and all eyes were on Oauhim to complete the hat-trick. Instead though it was Klimala, obviously fancying himself from 12 yards, who stepped up. There was silence as he stuttered and opened his body up to make his intentions obvious, and the Eastern keeper just had to guess the height, turning the ball away. That would eat away at Klimala for the rest of the game, and he went close, but was destined to miss out on the scoring. Joe Lolley raced away down the right and defied all expectations by crossing with his right, and the element of surprise led to the Eastern defender heading into his own net with a spectacular diving header for a ridiculous own goal. This was now a rout, even though it hadn’t been looking that way midway through the first half.
The subs were starting now, and we saw the hidden introduction of Alex Popovic coinciding with the replacement of superstar Costa by the in-coming Maxi Burgess. Costa trotted off the field on the far side, perfectly scripted so he had to walk around the field and in front of the Cove to milk the love. The Cove were more interested in their favourite player Maxi, giving him a rousing welcome, before the same chant morphed into Douglas Costa as the Brazilian reached the Cove.
There were still 20 minutes left, Sydney grabbed another when Oauhim and Klimala linked up in the middle. A deflected shot looked to be heading out but Burgess appeared from nowhere at the far post to prod the ball back into the middle, and a second unfortunate own goal was the result, the defender unable to prevent himself from chesting the ball into the unguarded net for 5-0.
The remaining 20 minutes saw a host of Sydney FC players warm up, but it was Corey Hollman who got the nod, and the Sky Blues looked good for more goals whilst leaving the door ajar for the visitors to claim a consolation. Devenish-Meares almost gifted a goal when he dallied on the ball and was closed down, but got away with it, and Leo Sena cut in from the left and fired in a shot that was brilliantly saved.
The final throes of the game coincided with the return of the Lo Lo chant, one that is dear to the Cove and provides so much amusement. The final whistle sounded and the players were quickly organised, celebrating with linked hands in front of their adoring fans. The new players knew the drill. The whole team then made themselves available to the crowd for selfies and signatures, Hayden Matthews forever popular and Costa remaining surrounded by fans until it was time to vacate the stadium.
This had been a brilliant start to the 2024/25 season for the 4,000 fans present. For all the envious looks as other teams shone in the Australia Cup and captured big signings, Sydney FC flexed their muscle here tonight and let us remember that we have got a damn good team here. There were obvious holes at the back, but in midfield and attack, we seem to have an extra level of invention. That third goal will live long in the memory. Check it out if you get a chance.
The journey home was lengthy. We went the long but direct way to get on to King George’s Road and then realised why there wasn’t much traffic, when the road was blocked by roadworks and we sat idling for ten minutes waiting for the traffic lights. Back home after 11pm, this was always going to be a late one, but it was fantastic to be back. The outlook for the season is bright. With no cup run and behind-closed-doors friendlies making our pre-season a little mysterious, we’re now looking forward to the Sydney derby in October with renewed optimism. Forza Sydney FC!