Pacific FC secured a massive and dramatic victory on Thursday night at York Lions Stadium, with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over York United.
A brace from substitute Reon Moore handed Pacific the victory, and pushed them up into fifth place in the table, three points ahead of BC rivals Vancouver FC for the final playoff spot. Oswaldo León scored his first York United goal in the first half.
This was the first occasion this season that Pacific FC came from behind to win a match, and couldn’t have come at a better time for the Tridents.
Knowing the importance of this match to their playoff hopes, Pacific were the dominant side through the early stages. They put the hosts under a set-piece siege, with a stunning six corners in the first fifteen minutes — although none of which troubled York goalkeeper Thomas Vincensini.
York slowly matched the Tridents’ intensity, and in the 21st minute, Matthew Baldisimo put the ball into the back of the net, but Brian Wright had strayed offside in the buildup. Wright had another good chance in the 30th minute, but sent a header from close range wide of target.
The visitors, meanwhile, continued to ask questions, especially from corner kicks with 11 overall during the opening half. Pacific finally registered their first shot on target in the 41st minute, a glancing header easily gathered by Vincensini.
The match looked destined to remain scoreless at the half, but York found a moment of quality in the 44th minute. Recovering a half-cleared York United corner kick, Jorge Guzmán cut down the wing and delivered a dangerous looping cross into the box which León volleyed home to give the Nine Stripes a 1-0 lead.
Pacific came incredibly close to an equalizer early in the second half, as a cross from Christian Greco-Taylor was redirected goalward by Dario Zanatta, forcing an impressive kick save from Vincensini. Pacific had a decent penalty shout moments later, as Elijah Adekugbe looked to have potentially handled an effort from Sami Keshavarz in the box, but it went uncalled.
Pacific had another half-chance in the 68th minute as Pacific substitute Moore cut through the York team and played a ball across to Moses Dyer. But the Pacific striker’s effort went high and wide.
With the visitors continuing to press, York nearly added to their lead in the 79th minute, as Brian Wright broke through on the counterattack and squared for Shola Jimoh. The 16-year-old’s strike was denied by Sean Melvin in the Pacific goal.
Three minutes later, Pacific FC finally tied the match. On corner kick number 12, their first of the second half, substitute Adonijah Reid’s deflected cross made its way into the path of Moore, who made the match 1-1.
In the 89th minute, Moore played hero for Pacific, with a crucial goal in their season. A huge tackle from Kunle Dada-Luke in the final third sent the ball into the path of Zanatta, who squared for an easy Moore tap-in.
For Pacific FC, all eyes will now turn to Sunday’s clash between Vancouver FC and Valour FC. They will hope the Winnipeg club can take points off of their BC rivals, and put Pacific in pole position to make the playoffs heading into ‘The Outcome’ next week, where they host regular season winners Forge FC.
BOX SCORE
Lineups
York United: Vincensini; Córdova, Higgins (Márquez 46′), León, Botello; Martínez (Voytsekhovskyy 86′), Adekugbe, Baldisimo; Jimoh (Ferrari 86′), Guzmán, Wright (Esprit 89′)
Pacific FC: Melvin; Dada-Luke, Meilleur-Giguère, Quintana, Greco-Taylor; Yeates, Young, Lamothe (Moore 68′); Keshavarz (Reid 78′), Zanatta (Tircoveanu 90+2′), Dyer (Mukumbilwa 90+2′)
Goals
44′ — Oswaldo León (York United)
82′ — Reon Moore (Pacific FC)
89′ — Reon Moore (Pacific FC)
Discipline
24′ —Yellow: Thomas Vincensini (York United)
49′ — Yellow: Steffen Yeates (Pacific FC)
49′ — Yellow: Juan Córdova (York United)
49′ — Yellow: Christian Greco-Taylor (Pacific FC)
62′ — Yellow: Santiago Márquez (York United)
67′ — Yellow: Matthew Baldisimo (York United)
69′ — Yellow: Juan Quintana (Pacific FC)
90+7′ — Yellow: Max Ferrari (York United)