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In Greece's Beta Ethniki, Nathan Burns' AO Kerkyra clinched promotion to the Super League after a 0-0 draw with Panaitolikos Agrinio. Burns started and played 70 minutes in the draw.

Rovers no match for AEK

28 July 2010-AAP

Australian striker Nathan Burns put in a strong performance as Greek side AEK Athens upstaged Blackburn Rovers 2-1 in a rain-soaked Festival of Football match at Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday.

Rangers edge out Rovers

Sydney crashes to AEK

The former Adelaide united striker had a hand in both of his side's goals as Athens continued its impressive form in the four-team pre-season tournament having beaten host Sydney FC 5-3 on Sunday.

Socceroos star Brett Emerton started for Blackburn in a match that looked anything but a friendly with several dubious tackles and scuffles off the ball.

Burns joined Athens from Adelaide in 2008 but has returned to the club after he was loaned out last season to then-second division side Kerkyra.

Having only made five appearances to date with Athens, he is eager to impress manager Dusan Bajevic ahead of the new Greek season.

While he didn't get on the scoresheet himself in 73 minutes of game time, Burns was heavily involved as Athens brought the game to life with two goals in three minutes.

He played a leading role in Ignacio Scocco's 21st-minute opener, showing pace in a break down the right flank before turning inside defender Phil Jones and squaring the ball beautifully.

Nikos Liberopoulos then craftily flicked the ball on and Scocco had no trouble curling the ball past goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Burns was again involved three minutes later as he combined with Scocco and the Argentine striker this time played provider as he squared for Liberopoulos to turn home.

Burns could have had a goal of his own shortly after half-time when he almost pounced on a back-pass to Robinson but the shot was fortunately blocked by the former England goalkeeper.

Blackburn started poorly despite having more time to recover from the jet lag that looked to hamper its effort's in Sunday's 2-0 loss to Rangers.

But it at least put some respectability in the scoreline when Jones rose to head home a Morten Gamst Pedersen cross in the 82nd minute.

Emerton had some impressive early touches and played 60 minutes while Sam Allardyce opted to rest fellow Australian Vince Grella.

The match was delayed momentarily in the first half when some of the stadium lights went out.

You don’t really have to change your life but you just have to be responsible. Don’t do stupid things like walk out of a club at four in the morning. There’s a time and a place for everything and this is what being a professional footballer is all about.

Nathan Burns’s stellar showing in the recent Sydney Festival of Football is believed to have sparked a bid by Glasgow Rangers for AEK Athens’ Socceroo striker, say reports.

Burns scored against the 'Gers as AEK went on to win the July tournament which also featured Sydney FC and Blackburn Rovers.

The 22-year-old Aussie’s performance across the three games stood out in an AEK side that caught the eye of many – including Walter Smith.

With Rangers short on strike-power ahead of the new season and the Scottish champions still feeling the loss of goal machine Kris Boyd to Middlesbrough, it’s believed Burns was to be offered a contract, O Kosmos columnists Tony and Xanthie Rallis report.

AEK however rejected the offer with coach Dusan Bajevic hailing Burns’s new-found maturity after a spell in the Greek second division on loan.

I'd rather he stay with AEK if he's going to get first team football. He's done the hard yards and deserves to rewarded in Greece for his efforts.