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Ozblue's Blog: Pain in Sydney Thursday, 29 July 2010 17:18 Written by Ozblue

Just back from the watching a very dire rangers effort against Sydney FC at a very wet and soggy SFS tonight. I was the first Rangers fan in at the Fox & Lion and had a great 6hours of wetting the tonsils before strolling over to the ground to watch the game between AEK Athens and Blackburn Rovers which AEK won 2-1.

The rain had been pelting down in Sydney all day long and it was one of those typical Scottish days when the conditions should really have suited Rangers down to the ground.

Walter fielded a near full strength side with only Bougherra and McGregor missing from the game on Sunday against Rovers.

Alexander took over in goal from shagger and Whittaker came in at R/B for Bougherra, but apart from that it was business as normal, with all the young guys on the bench.

I really was surprised at this selection from Walter, given that these young guys might be needed a lot sooner than he hopes, so they really need game time before the season begins.

The game was as dour and dreary as the weather and the heavier the rain became the worse we played...we had a host of good moves and chances with Edu very unlucky not to bag at least two goals, but I can assure you that the Rangers fans were NOT in a good mood at some of the stuff being served up against a Sydney team missing quite a few of what would be considered their normal starting selection.

If ever a game fitted the cliche' of "This game needs a goal", it was this one, as Rangers totally dominated possession and chances to win the game, only for to see the whole move wasted by some terrible passing of the final ball and some very good goalkeeping from the Sydney goalkeeper, Liam Reddy.

With the ball getting bogged down in the water, there was a dual scare when first Kyle Lafferty went down in the Sydney penalty box chasing a through ball and sat on the wet turf for about 3 minutes before getting up and hobbling straight to the sideline, and then Lee McCulloch limped off also.

It remains to be seen at this stage just how bad these injuries are. Kenny Miller also departed early but I don't think it was an injury.

Sydney had one decent chance at goal late on when total confusion reared its head with Rangers getting a free kick and stuffing it up somehow, much to the anger and consternation of the Rangers support  ( I still can't work out what happened) and Alexander tipped a great shot just over the crossbar.

That could have been the final insult to Rangers on an evening when the Rangers fans once again were the star turn inside the stadium supporting the team.

The only difference was that we weren't as jovial at full time as we were on Sunday, so unless a miracle happens and we thump AEK  on Saturday by 4 clear goals, the Athens side takes home the inaugural Sydney Football Tournament trophy.

As the full time whistle sounded, the Rangers players left the ground pretty quick for the comfort of the dressing rooms and the supporters sand and chanted all the way from the stadium back to the Fox & Lion pub.....As one fan said to me...Ozblue, I should have just stayed in the pub and watched it on telly.

My reply was...By the look of the crowd mate! that's what most people actually did.

Oh well! It was a great day out...I saw Rangers again, sang my lungs out until I was hoarse, gave a heap of Sydney fans a touch of the old Glasgow banter...and got a kiss off a beautiful wee lassie from Dublin.

If things get better on Saturday, I'll be laughing all the way home.

Cheers from Sydney, Bears and Bearettes.

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