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Australian Nathan Burns boosted his hopes of first-team football with AEK Athens this season after scoring the winner in the Greek side’s 1-0 triumph over Rangers at the Sydney Festival of Football on Saturday night.
The former Adelaide winger netted with a powerful header in the 73rd minute at the Sydney Football Stadium to ensure Athens took honours in the four-team pre-season tournament with three wins from as many games.
Burns, who also played a part in both goals in Athens’ 2-1 win over Blackburn on Wednesday, sent a strong message to his manager Dusan Bajevic, who is weighing up weather to keep him with the first team for the coming season or loan him out.
The 22-year-old joined Athens from Adelaide in 2008 but has only just returned to the club after he was loaned out last season to then-second division side Kerkyra.
He need only 10 minutes after coming off the bench to make his mark against the run of play against Rangers, leaping impressively to head home a cross from Nikos Karabelas to delight the home crowd.
Athens’ win could have been even more comfortable had substitute Rafik Djebbour not been denied by two great saves from Rangers goalkeeper Alan McGregor in the late stages.
The Greek side dominated possession early on but Rangers took control of the match and should have headed into halftime with a lead.
The Scottish champions created a host of chances with defender Steven Whittaker causing problems on the left flank, floating in two lovely crosses that Kenny Miller just failed to meet.
Lee McCullough had a volleyed effort saved from a Steve Davis corner in the 36th minute, before captain David Weir headed wide from a free kick.
Their best chance came three minutes from the break with Madjid Bougherra firing over the bar from close range following an attempt on goal by Maurice Edu.
The frustration continued after the break for Rangers with Miller again coming close with an acrobatic volley in the 64th minute while they also couldn’t take a few late chances to snare a draw.
Rangers manager Walter Smith suffered a brief scare when Weir appeared to twist his left ankle, but the wily 40-year-old carried on.
Bajevic said on Wednesday he would decide Burns’ immediate future when the side returned to Athens but the Australian said he fully expected to remain with the first team for the coming season.
“I rate myself as playing in this team this year,” Burns said.
“I back myself and I want to give myself as big an opportunity as I can to play in this team.
“… I don’t think I’ve done any harm (tonight), scoring the goal was good, you always want to see goal from strikers and attacking players.”
Smith felt his side did not deserve to lose but was pleased with what they had taken from the tour.
“From out point of view it was a success, there was a good standard of games, competitive games which is what we need and we enjoyed it overall,” Smith said.
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