Nanaimo United wasn’t at full strength, and fell one goal short on its home turf.
The city’s Vancouver Island Soccer League Div. 1 team (8-5-1) was defeated 3-2 by Gorge FC (3-10-1) on Saturday night at Merle Logan Field.
United, missing a handful of players, knew it would be tested, and it was. Gorge jumped out to a 2-0 lead before United was able to make it 2-1 before halftime on an own goal by the visitors.
Nanaimo came out and carried the play in the second half and got the tying goal on a long shot from Atsuto Matsumoto. United continued to press for the go-ahead goal and although Gorge was playing a defensive formation to try to hold onto the tie, it benefited from a bounce and sprung its striker for a breakway goal at about the 80th minute. United forced a couple of late corner kicks but couldn’t convert.
SOCCER TALK … United doesn’t play again until Jan. 19, when it hosts Castaways (3-9-2).
