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Chelsea to tour Australia for first time in 50 years: reports

Xinhua, April 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

English football giant Chelsea will tour Australia for the first time in 50 years after reportedly agreeing to play Sydney FC in June.

Fairfax Media reported on Friday that the English Premier League (EPL) leaders are expected to play the A-League team in a friendly on June 2 at the 83,000-capacity ANZ Stadium, Sydney's Olympic Stadium.

The post-season match would take place just four days after fellow Premier League club Tottenham meets Sydney FC at the same venue, adding to an already congested schedule of European giants touring Australia.

Liverpool and Villareal will also play friendlies against local clubs in the fortnight after the European seasons conclude.

Superpowers Real Madrid, AS Roma and Manchester City will commence their pre-season in July at the International Champions Cup at the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Fairfax reported a deal with Chelsea executives had been agreed to in principle but would not be confirmed until at least next week.

The match will be the last commitment for the EPL players before the team breaks for the off-season and international matches including the EURO 2016 tournament.

Chelsea are likely champions of the EPL, currently holding a commanding lead, while Sydney FC remain in the hunt for a third A-League title in second place on the A-League ladder ahead of the finals series beginning next week.

If the London club are crowned champions as expected, they will be the second EPL champion in three years to visit Sydney as title holders after Manchester United met an A-League all-stars team in 2012. Endi