What Went Right

Let’s just start with one word: Bustos. There haven’t been many more dominant performances throughout the CPL’s history, and no one has ever recorded three assists in a single game before Bustos on Sunday. No defender was able to keep up with him and he combined perfectly with the rest of the attack to run circle around Valour. His assists came from familiar positions but there was variety to them at the same time. A fantastic one-two with Alejandro Diaz led to an outside-of-the-foot chip to Manny Aparicio looked like the pick of the bunch but all three were brilliant in their own way. Seeing Bustos in peak form is welcome news for Pacific supporters who’ll be happy to see the winger putting on a show on the Island.

Aside from Bustos, the rest of the attack also looked extremely fluid going forward and look to have picked up right where they left off last season. The goal-scorers on the day – Josh Heard, Diaz and Aparicio – worked hard off the ball to find space for Bustos to pick them out and were rewarded with a goal each. That’s two goals in two games for Diaz who has his sights set on the golden boot this season as Pacific’s undisputed number one option up front.

What Can Improve

On balance, this game did not seem like it would end 3-2. The scoreline appears to show Pacific scrapped by Valour, but in reality the home side controlled most of the match and should’ve come away with a much larger margin of victory. An unfortunate own goal and a penalty with the last kick off the game gave Valour two goals and will have frustrated James Merriman and the defence as Pacific still looks for the first clean sheet of the season.

Also, frustratingly, the goal from Matthew Baldisimo that was called off would’ve been his first career goal for Pacific FC. The last of the “PFC Originals” has stepped right back into the base of midfield after a difficult season with injury last year and would have loved to add his name to the scoresheet.

Looking Ahead

The last of Pacific’s opening run of matches at home comes with the visit of HFX Wanderers on Saturday. The Wanderers have been on the road in Ontario for their opening run of matches and came way with one win.

Pacific FC remains unbeaten and top of the league after the opening two rounds of matches. Atletico Ottawa have also won their two opening games but with more goals scored Pacific technically takes top spot. Halifax are the only other team to have won a game so far and sit in third with three points.

Ultimately, Pacific look like a team that will again score a lot of goals over the course of the season, but to truly cement themselves as the top team they need to start keeping clean sheets and tighten up defensively. Thankfully that will be of no surprise to Merriman who said after the match against Valour that he wanted his team to control the game more from the position they were in and acknowledged the need to work on it as a group.

Favourite Moment

It was a moment that was easily lost amongst of the brilliance of his other moves in the match and because nothing really came from it. But at one point Bustos picked up the ball in his normal right-wing spot outside the box and went on a mazy run along the top of the box as he tried to find a seam in the defence. Again, nothing came of this moment and I probably didn’t describe it well enough, but it just caused me to laugh as it showed how confident Bustos is at the moment.

Reactions

Wanting more out of his side – post match thoughts from @Pacificfccpl head coach @James__Merriman 🎙#CanPL l 📝: @BTFR17

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) April 18, 2022

Memorable Photo

PFC Standout Player: Marco Bustos

There’s not much left to say, is there? Defences everywhere grew further terrified watching him run the show on Sunday.

A full season of Bustos on the Island will be a lot of fun.

Scoring Summary

20’ – Pacific FC – Manny Aparicio (Marco Bustos)

33’ – Pacific FC – Alejandro Diaz (Marco Bustos)

42’ – Valour FC – Own Goal (Kunle Dada-Luke)

56’ – Pacific FC – Josh Heard (Marco Bustos)

90+3’ – Valour FC – Moses Dyer (Penalty)

Statistics

Possession: PFC 65 % – VAL 35 %

Shots: PFC 20 – VAL 3

Shots on Goal: PFC 8 – VAL 2

Saves: PFC 1 – VAL 5

Fouls: PFC 19 – VAL 11

Offsides: PFC 2 – VAL 1

Corners: PFC 7 – VAL 4

Cautions

26’ – Tony Mikhael – Red