Rovers overpower Rangers
The Sydney Rangers soccer team have failed to hold the Justin Fashanu Cup title at the weekend, with the Melbourne Rovers proving too strong in a fast-paced game ending 2-1 Melbourne’s way at St George Soccer Stadium.
The cup, now in its second year, is an annual match between the only gay male soccer teams in Australia.
Sydney Rangers coach Joseph Roppolo said, despite the loss, it was a fantastic day and a great chance to honour Justin Fashanu, the only professional soccer player in the world to come out as a gay man, before tragically take his own life 18 months later.
“The spirit of the day wasn’t to win, it was to celebrate Fashanu and we were just happy to take part in that,” he said.
“The whole weekend was excellent. We went out on the Saturday night to dinner on Oxford St which gave us the chance to hang out and socialise post-match as well.”
Roppolo told Sydney Star Observer last week that he was expecting a tough match from Melbourne, who finished another successful winter season.
“We were chasing the whole match and Melbourne’s first goal was stunning. But it’s made us excited to come down to Melbourne for the third Justin Fashanu Cup next year and try to take it back,” he said this week.
Sydney won last year’s competition 4-2.
