VICTORIA HIGHLANDERS 2
MID ISLEMARINERS 1
Victoria Highlanders F.C. are off to the finals of the Pacific Coast Soccer League this afternoon at 1 p.m. after recording a 2-1 victory over Vancouver Island rival the Mid Isle Mariners in Saturday鈥檚 semi-final at Trillium Park in Vancouver.
The Highlanders, who finished third in the regular season, will face fourth-place Khalsa Sporting Club, which upset No. 1 Vancouver United F.C. 4-1 in the opening semi-final.
During the regular season, Victoria easily defeated Khalsa 4-1 at Royal Athletic Park in mid-June before a 2-2 draw in the second meeting early this month at Queen鈥檚 Park.
On Saturday, Patrick Nelson opened the scoring for the Highlanders just seven minutes in and it stayed that way until Adam Almeida added some insurance in the 85th minute.
It was much needed as the Mariners struck back in the 90th when Bryce Marinus replied.
鈥淲e played really well. Performance-wise, it was probably our best game of the year, especially in the first half,鈥� said Highlanders head coach Dave Dew, who was without Adam Ravenhill, but will have him back today.
As for meeting Khalsa in the final, Dew stated: 鈥淚t鈥檒l be a war.
鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 suit up half their team when they came to Victoria. The second game was a battle and they tied that one up with five minutes left,鈥� Dew said of the previous results.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an older, well-seasoned team.鈥�
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