WHAT a match! What an occasion! And what timing as far as Hong Kong sport is concerned in these troubled early days for the magnificent new national stadium. I'm referring, of course, to the exhibition football match between Hong Kong champions Eastern and Italian Cup winners Sampdoria, when the stadium was filled to its 40,000 capacity and a further 5,000 people were turned away. It was a marvellous sight - not the people being turned away but the ''Sold Out'' signs going up around the ground - and one which goes a long way to restoring faith in the billion-dollar stadium project. Let's face it, since the stadium re-opened on March 11, there has been nothing but controversy, criticism and confusion, so much so that the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, who paid for the redevelopment, must have wondered why they had bothered getting involved. The Jockey Club described the stadium as ''a donation to the people of Hong Kong'' and, at last, the people of Hong Kong responded accordingly. On the morning of the match, some 8,000 tickets were still available but these had been bought almost an hour before the 8 pm kick-off, leaving thousands to begin the long journey home much earlier than expected. The appearance of the Governor, Chris Patten, drew thunderous applause from the crowd, as did Sampdoria's first-class public relations exercise in walking on to the field carrying the Hong Kong flag. Sampdoria's fluent attacking style, together with Eastern's resilience in conceding only one goal in the first half against Serie A's top scorers, put the crowd in good heart on a warm and humid evening and the Mexican Wave - accompanied by ticker-tape - produced a carnival atmosphere during the half-time interval. Samp responded with three goals inside the first 11 minutes of the second half and turned the occasion into a celebration of sport and of sportsmanship. Everyone went home happy, even Eastern defender Tim O'Shea, who admitted: ''I can honestly say it was the first time I've enjoyed being beaten so heavily. It was great to watch.'' It was an evening when everyone had a common goal - to enjoy a sporting spectacle in Hong Kong. This is why the stadium was re-built and this is what everyone connected with it should be working towards. The people of Hong Kong were the winners on Wednesday night and hopefully it marked a turning point in the stadium's short, problem-plagued history. As for the Hong Kong Football Association, their fears that a daily hire charge of $150,000-a-time would destroy the game here are proving groundless. The FA have just released the statistics of matches played during April and, of the $6.7 million collected, $5.3 million of this was taken for the two football matches played at the new stadium. The Viceroy Cup final between South China and Instant-Dict attracted 16,496 spectators and gate receipts of $1.7 million. The exhibition match between South China and Sao Paulo two days later drew 25,048 fans and receipts of $3.6 million. All of which goes to show that if the FA sort themselves out for next season and stage three or four worthwhile matches a month at the stadium, the interest and cash generated can help lift the game to new heights. Platt just a face in the crowd THE face was familiar, so was the Lancashire accent. Yes, it was David Platt, captain of his country, a hero in Genoa but now hopelessly lost in the crowds of Causeway Bay on a hot Monday afternoon. At his side was another great leader of our times - Sampdoria captain Roberto Mancini. Between them they were looking for the Regal Hong Kong Hotel . . . and not making a very good job of it. ''It's over there somewhere,'' said Platt to a passer-by who had recognised his country's skipper and asked him if he needed any help. ''We can see it; we just can't find a place to cross the road to get to it,'' added Platt, who hadn't looked as flustered since Ronald Koeman pulled him down just outside the Dutch penalty box and wasn't shown the red card. After being given a few instructions, Platt and Mancini were on their way, as thankful and relieved as any other first-day tourist in Hong Kong. The crowds of Causeway Bay . . . what a great leveller in the world of football. Lana bowls 'em over THE Hong Kong Stadium pitch claimed an unsuspecting victim shortly after the final whistle of the Eastern-Sampdoria game on Wednesday evening. Lana Ma, who works for the organisers, ProEvents Management Ltd, was rounding up the team coaches and key players ready for the after-match news conference when the turf gave way and she did a ''Klinsmann'' - went flying with no-one near her. Poor Lana was left with a broken toe, which was attended to first by the Sampdoria physio and then by the first aid people at the Stadium. And it wasn't a case of ''out of sight, out of mind'' as far as the Sampdoria team were concerned because the following day, after arriving in Beijing for the next leg of their Asian tour, the club sent a ''get well'' fax to Lana in Hong Kong. These Italian boys sure have style. Sports Person of the Week: David Platt. The England captain (above) showed what a great ambassador he is for the game, both on and off the field, during his all-too-short visit to the territory with Italian superstars Sampdoria. Sports Quote of the Week: ''What a pity that a football match like this had to be played on a pitch like that. I don't know what's happened but it's not perfect'' - Sampdoria's coach, Sven Goran Eriksson (above), proving he is a master of under-statement.