YAKIMA, WA—Port Orchard Football Club earned an Evergreen Premier League standings point in a wild 4-4 draw with Yakima United on June 13 at Marquette Stadium in Yakima.
Vinny Self scored two first half goals to rally POFC back from an early deficit. Harper Sabari also scored twice. Sabari brought the Tall Firs level at 3-3 before the halftime whistle and then put POFC up 4-3 in the second half before the Hoppers got one back.
Yakima United took a 2-0 lead midway through the second half under the blazing early evening sun.
Aaron Lopez fed Vinny Self with a direct ball right down the middle and Vinny calmly accepted the pass and scored to give Port Orchard life at 2-1.
It soon became a two goal deficit again as Yakima were awarded a penalty kick call and converted to make it 3-1.
Down but not out, POFC scored twice in the final 3 minutes before halftime.
Vinny Self was tripped in the box. He then converted the penalty kick to pull PO back to within 3-2.
Just moments later Port Orchard were attacking again and Dominik Pajimola found Harper Sabari. Harper’s surprise shot rolled into the Yakima net.
The traveling Port Orchard supporters began chants of “PO! FC!” It was even 3-3 at the half.
Port Orchard continued to look dangerous in the second half. Then around the 60th minute Pepe De Luna blasted a shot at the Yakima keeper that was pushed to the side but not out. De Luna chased the rebound and looped a cross across goal to the waiting head of Sabari, who put it in to put POFC up 4-3.
Yakima were level a few minutes later, and both sides searched for chances down the stretch but could not find a match winner.
POFC is now 1-2-3 (W-L-T) on the season with 6 standings point, good enough for fifth place. The top four places make the playoffs. Yakima United is 3-1-1 with 10 points, tied with Bellinghamm for first place.
POFC hosts Wenatchee on Sunday June 21 at 3 PM at Kitsap Bank Stadium.
