After winning its opening match, Campbell River’s Mainstream Canada Young Masters played its first home game last Saturday in Division 4 of the Vancouver Island Soccer League.
Opponents Zgoda Juniors FC of Victoria also won its season opener and the two clubs are tied at the top of the division.
The local side played the first 30 minutes a man short and Zgoda took advantage, scoring on a breakaway at the seven-minute mark.
Campbell River settled into the game and were able to equalize on a counter-attack at 25 minutes on a brilliant finish by Kevin Shelswell. Zgoda Juniors then scored with a strong header, making it 2-1 at halftime.
At the 70 minutes, it was the Zgoda’s turn to play with 10 men, as they lost a player due to a red card given for a dangerous tackle. On the ensuing free kick, player/coach John Jepson executed a wonderful left footed strike from just over 18 yards to beat a diving keeper.
Minutes before the final whistle, Mainstream keeper Connor Fairweather made a game-saving save as he sprawled across his goal to stop a rebound from crossing the line. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, leaving both teams in top-of-the-table position in the standings after two weeks.
Mainstream Canada plays another home game this coming Sunday, 2 p.m. at Willow Point Park, versus SFFC Originals.