The Okanagan Challenge did what they set out to do this season.
Well, to this point anyway.
On Saturday night, the Challenge blanked Victoria United 2-0 at the Apple Bowl to clinch first place in the Pacific Coast Soccer League premier men‘s division. With the win, the Challenge finished 11-3-2 in regular-season play, overtaking the second-place Vancouver Thunderbirds (11-5-0).
“That‘s what our goal was all along, to go into playoffs as the top seed,” said attacking midfielder Roman Doutkevitch. “We came out and did what we had to do, and got the job done.”
As playoff hosts, the Challenge were assured one of four tournament berths, but they wanted to get in as a result of their play on the pitch. They did that in convincing fashion, and will now enter this weekend‘s tournament at the Apple Bowl as the favourites.
Their opponent has yet to be decided, but will likely be the Fraser Valley Action (7-3-5). Fraser Valley is two points up on Victoria with one game remaining, Wednesday against last-place Surrey United (2-11-2). Victoria (7-5-3) also had a game to go, Sunday against the sixth-place Kamloops Excel (7-6-2). That result was not available at press time, but a Victoria loss there or a Fraser Valley win on Wednesday would secure Fraser Valley the fourth seed.
The other semifinal will pit the Thunderbirds against the third-place Khalsa Sporting Club of Coquitlam (9-5-2).
Playoff games are set for 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. on Sunday at the Apple Bowl.
Against Victoria, the Challenge got goals from Tyler Murphy and Darryl King, while Victoria native J.D. Blakley posted the shutout.
Murphy opened the scoring with about five minutes remaining in the first half, tapping the ball into an open net after Mark McGlinchey went down the sideline, beat a defender and set up the strike.
Victoria, playing for its playoff life, pressured for the equalizer before the break.
“The last three minutes of the first half, they were really pressing right after we scored,” said Doutkevitch of some nervous moments that included four consecutive corner kicks for Victoria. “We controlled most of the game, but they had a lot of corners towards the end of the first half. The last one went in for a header, and he just headed it wide.”
The Challenge weathered the storm, and King added an insurance marker with less than 15 minutes to play in the second half.
A well attended contest, Doutkevitch and Co. put on a good show for their fans despite less than ideal playing conditions.
“It was pretty windy and with the ashes from the fire, it was weird to play in,” Doutkevitch said, “because you were always getting dust in your eyes. But there were a lot of fans there, the stands were probably half full, and we didn‘t disappoint.
“We definitely outplayed them. We had three or four other opportunities inside the box that we just put wide.” Top of Page
