Chelsea to play Sydney FC in Australia

- Chelsea will play a friendly against Sydney FC in June on their first visit to Australia in 50 years, with many of their top players making the trip, the A-League club said Monday.

The match, at Sydney's 83,000-capacity Olympic Stadium on June 2, comes just days after the end of the English Premier League season.

Chelsea are currently 10 points clear at the top of the table with five games left. Sydney FC remain in the hunt for a third A-League crown and will play in a home final in next month's playoffs.

"Australia is uncharted territory for the modern Chelsea, and I can't wait to see our many fans there as we show our appreciation for their long-distance support of the club," Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said in a statement.

Many of the team's big names will take part, including John Terry, Didier Drogba, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.

The game will be Chelsea's only match in Australia and will be played just days after Sydney meet Tottenham Hotspur at the same venue on May 30.

Chelsea's match extends a busy off-season schedule of European giants playing in Australia with Manchester City, Real Madrid, Roma, Liverpool, Villareal and Spurs already confirmed for friendly games.
Source: AFP