After two tough games, the Penticton Pinnacles Football Club have kept themselves in the running for a spot in the playoffs.
The Pinnacles went into the weekend within two points of Kelowna’s Okanagan Football Club and the Kamloops Wolfpack as all three teams vied for the same playoff spot.
To keep themselves in the running, the Pinnacles first suited up against the Victoria Highlanders in the Saturday sun. The Highlanders were the top team in the Pacific Coast Soccer League, going into the weekend’s games against Penticton and Kelowna.
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The Highlanders gave the Pinnacles a challenge, with both teams scoring a goal in the first half. Midway through the second, the Pinnacles took a one-goal lead thanks to Mirab Rahmati. They held on through seven minutes of extra time to take the win.
“They’re a tough team, a lot of them play for the University of Victoria, so we knew that we needed to be at our best,” said Pinnacles assistant coach Manuel Borba. “It was a character builder for the boys to take on the best team in the league and in my opinion (we) outplayed them.”
Saturday’s heat was replaced by Sunday clouds as the Pinnacles took on the Kamloops Wolfpack on the field of Kings Park in Penticton. Both teams were tied with 15 points in the standings going into the game, with Penticton taking the win in regulation time.
The score was 3-1 in the end, with a number of shots for the Pinnacles that either edged the outside of the goal or hit a post or the crossbar. Bjorn Borren put the game away for the Pinnacles with the final goal, getting the ball past two defenders and the Kamloops goalkeeper.
With the victory, the Pinnacles have kept their playoff hopes alive, at least for another week.
With one game left in the regular season, both Kelowna and Penticton face off against the Surrey United team next weekend. Kelowna plays Surrey on Saturday, and the Pinnacles will have their turn Sunday, July 21, at Penticton’s Kings Park.
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