AEK Athens remain unbeaten in Sydney tournament

AEK Athens remained unbeaten in the Sydney pre-season tournament with a 2-1 win over English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday.

It was the Greek team’s second win, after thrashing hosts Sydney FC 5-3 on Sunday.

In Wednesday’s other game on a rain-soaked pitch, Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers were held to a scoreless draw with Sydney FC.

Argentine Ignacio Scocco scored Athens’ opener in the 21st minute, curling his shot past goalkeeper Paul Robinson following a Nikos Liberopoulos flick on.

Australian Nathan Burns was involved three minutes later as he combined with Scocco, who squared for Liberopoulos to turn home.

Blackburn pulled back a goal when defender Phil Jones headed home a Morten Gamst Pedersen cross in the 82nd minute.

In the late match, played in appalling conditions, there was barely a genuine chance until Sydney goalkeeper Liam Reddy pulled off a superb diving save in the 65th minute to deny a headed attempt from Rangers’ forward Maurice Edu.

The tournament winds up on Saturday with AEK Athens taking on Rangers and Sydney FC playing Blackburn.