Phil Jones netted his first senior Rovers goal but it wasn't enough as they went down 2-1 to AEK Athens.

It was a repeat of the first match of the Sydney Festival of Football as Rovers once again started slowly and paid the price when AEK scored two goals in the space of three minutes.

The conditions didn't help either side, but Rovers grew stronger in the second half and when Jones headed a goal back with ten minutes remaining it gave them hope.

The final minutes saw Jacobsen tee up Grant Hanley but he headed narrowly wide.

Rovers started brightly in the pouring Sydney rain, but that early optimism was soon washed away.

The Athens side, who finished fourth in their Superleague last season soon gained the upper hand and served notice of their intent on 19 minutes when a corner from Leonardo was met first time by Lyberopolous but his effort flashed the wrong side of the post.

That warning wasn't heeded and Rovers found themselves a goal down on 21 minutes.

It was Australian Nathan Burns who broke from midfield, twisting and turning he took on Jones, the ball was played from right to left from one player to another but no challenge was forthcoming from a Rovers player and Scocco took full advantage with a shot across the goal that crept in courtesy of the far post.

Three minutes later and the lead was doubled. Once again Rovers were caught napping when Burns and Leonardo combined to cross and Lyberopoulos swept the ball home past Robinson.

It got worse for Rovers when Gaël Givet limped off, his place taken by Pascal Chimbonda. The Frenchman picking up a dead leg.

Phil Jones injected some urgency into Rovers' play with a strong run from inside his own half right into the Greek's penalty box, but there wasn't a player in a blue and white shirt to latch onto the cross.

It wasn't the friendliest of encounters, David Dunn and Makos having a running battle throughout the first half.

The start of the second half wasn't the best either from a Rovers point of view. First half substitute Pascal Chimbonda played a poor back pass that Robinson did well to get to, but inexplicably the Rovers' 'keeper chose to juggle with the ball before clearing it on the volley, fortunately Burns couldn't get a vital touch.

Robinson redeemed himself moments later when a wonderful through ball saw nathan Burns race clear on goal, but the Rovers goalkeeper slid out to claim at the forward's feet.

Morten Gamst Pedersen, Junior Hoilett and then Josh Morris were all introduced as Sam Allardyce shuffled his pack.

As the rain continued to pour Rovers started to get more into the game, Keith Andrews and Phil Jones both seeing efforts blocked.

But it was first half scorer Lyberopoulos who really should have made it 3-0 when the impressive Scocco crossed, but the AEK forward sidefooted wide from 12 yards.

Phil Jones pulled a goal back for Rovers on 81 minutes with a strike that typified the young defender's display. A quickly taken throw between Morris and Pedersen saw the ball clipped into the area where Jones, who had fought tirelessly throughout, attacked the ball and headed home.

Jones had started the game at the back but by the end of the game he was a marauding forward, and whilst he had dragged Rovers back into the game, like Sunday's encounter, they couldn't get the all important leveller. His fellow defender Grant Hanley spurning a great chance when heading wide a Lars Jacobsen cross in injury time.

Rovers' final encounter takes place this Saturday when they face hosts Sydney FC.

ROVERS: Robinson, Jacobsen, Jones, Hanley, Givet (sub Chimbonda 39 mins), Emerton (sub Hoilett 60 mins), Andrews, Nzonzi (sub Diouf 71 mins), Olsson (sub Morris 67 mins), Dunn (sub Pedersen 57 mins), Roberts.

Subs not used: Salgado, Bunn, Grella, Linganzi, Rigters.

AEK ATHENS: Saja, Kafes, Majstorovic, Leonardo, Makos, Lagos, Burns, Scocco, Lyberopoulos, Dellas, Georgeas.

Subs: Arabatus, Diop, Blanco, Eder, Gentzoglu, Karampelas, Jahig.