Sydney FC 0-0 Rangers

Andrew Dickson reports from Sydney Football Stadium

RANGERS hopes of winning the Sydney Festival of Football are virtually over after a 0-0 draw with the hosts in horrific conditions in Australia.

After 24 hours of incessant rain Down Under, the Light Blues struggled to cope with a quagmire pitch at the Sydney Football Stadium and couldn't make a breakthrough.

Mo Edu had their best chance in the second half with a downward header after he was set up by Steven Davis, just as he was when he scored against Blackburn on Sunday.

But his effort was turned away by Sydney goalkeeper Liam Reddy and the stalemate leaves AEK Athens well clear of the rest in the race for the inaugural title.

After they beat Blackburn 2-1 in the first game of the day, they are now on 13 points because one is awarded for each goal you net.

With the Light Blues lying second on six, only a win by at least four goals against the Greeks will give them a chance of taking the title on Saturday.

Even then, an even more bizarre result in the other game could still give Sydney the trophy - or indeed Blackburn if they can take their score into double figures!

Walter Smith resisted the temptation mix his side up and of the two changes he made to his team, one of those was enforced.

Madjid Bougherra had to sit the game out with a slight knock picked up against Rovers at the weekend and Steven Whittaker replaced him.

Neil Alexander also started in goals after recovering from a calf injury and that meant it was a night on the bench for regular number one Allan McGregor.

Despite almost being at full strength, the SPL champions took some time to find their rhythm.

And it was A-League outfit Sydney who adapted far better to the conditions initially as they enjoyed plenty of possession.

With that said, they still couldn't penetrate nearly as much as their coach Vitezslav Lavicka would have liked.

Mark Bridge had their first decent opportunity when he got a fortunate break in the box but his low drive was straight at Alexander.

At the other end, Kyle Lafferty saw one shot deflected into keeper Reddy's arms then beat four men only to put too much weight on his through ball for Steven Naismith.

Davis tried to set up the former Kilmarnock man seconds later and after releasing him down the right flank it seemed a chance was on.

But the Scotland squad member's cutback was poor and reflective of a first half showing from Gers which just never gathered any pace.

In fairness, a lot of that was down to the appalling weather which was most certainly akin to a typical winters day in Glasgow.

With rain teeming down, the pitch was cutting up all too rapidly and with plenty of surface water there too, more and more passes were going astray or holding up.

Rangers improved after the break and Andy Webster might have had a chance to shoot had Davis been a little smarter in the box.

Lee McCulloch also drove wide from 30 yards, while Edu was sure he had scored until that excellent diving save from Reddy.

Seconds later, it took good positioning from Alexander to keep out substitute Iyane Thiam when he tried to find the top corner with an inswinger.

That opportunity came in one of Sydney's few forays upfield in the second period and as full time drew nearer, it was the away team that looked most likely to nick it.

But Edu was denied once again by Reddy and replacement Andrew Little was inches away from nodding Steven Whittaker's hanging cross into the net.

Gers threw everything they had at Sydney in the final moments but when a Davis corner drifted out before it reached the penalty area, you know it would be one of those nights.

Now all Smith can hope for is to finish with a flourish against Athens - and hopefully for his team's sake in far better conditions than they found themselves in here.

RANGERS: Alexander; Whittaker, Webster, Weir, Broadfoot; McCulloch (McMillan 82); Naismith, Davis, Edu, Lafferty (Little 79); Miller (Fleck 60).

SUBS: Perry, Wylde, Ness, McGregor.

SYDNEY: Reddy, Dyall, Keller (Golec 52), Foxe, Carle (Moriyasu 46), Cole, McFlynn,

Bridge (Thiam 46), Jamieson (Gan 79), Byun, Grant (Musialik 62).

SUBS: Danning, Brosque, Jurman, Gullo, Neceuski, Antonis, Mitchell.

REFEREE: Matthew Breeze.