Anatomy of a PFC Goal is a series breaking down brilliant or memorable goals scored by Pacific FC through the years.

It will look into the before, during, and after to describe how the goal was constructed and finished off, and how it affected the match.

This series is best viewed horizontally or on a computer to view the photos more clearly.

For the second entry into the Anatomy of a PFC Goal series we’re going back to one of the two biggest nights in Pacific FC history, and definitely the biggest to take place on the Island.

Before we get into the moment itself, take a look again at Manny Aparicio’s firecracker of a goal against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the first edition of the Ferryside Derby. Then we’ll break it down below.

Before

I mean where to begin…? The lead up to this match was wild. As soon as Pacific FC had been unveiled as a founding club of the Canadian Premier League, the first meeting between BC’s only two (at the time) professional teams was hotly anticipated.

When the match finally came in 2021 the teams were also on very different trajectories.

Pacific FC was riding high and in the midst of what would eventually be a title-winning season, while the Whitecaps were experiencing another frustrating campaign. Under the leadership of Marc Dos Santos, the team had gone eight games unbeaten heading into this match, but with five of those being draws the team was still on the outside looking in at the Major League Soccer Western Conference playoff picture.

The stakes were high for both teams entering this Preliminary Round fixture in the 2021 Canadian Championship, and the tournament represented two different paths for the clubs. 

For Vancouver, winning the Voyageurs Cup would’ve been an avenue towards bringing some positivity into their otherwise underwhelming season. For Pacific, it was an opportunity to continue to test themselves in high-stake matches as they searched for a first trophy in club history – which would eventually come in December of that year.

During

*Notes – White lines indicate ball movement, yellow lines indicate player movement, and circles indicate important players in that frame. Text corresponds to the image below it.*

The moment we’re discussing here comes with the score level at 1-1. Pacific had grabbed the opening goal through Terran Campbell’s penalty before the Whitecaps got one back through Ryan Gauld in somewhat dubious circumstances.

The move here begins with Jordan Haynes playing the ball forward to Manny Aparicio. Haynes does so quickly and without direct pressure on him.

An ethos of Pacific FC that has been consistent through both Pa-Modou Kah and James Merriman is to take the game to the opponent and not wait to be pressed to move vertically with purpose.

In anticipation of receiving the ball, Aparicio positions his body open to the pitch with the sideline behind him. Doing so allows Aparicio to have total awareness of his surroundings as a ball is fizzed into him. It also facilitates him taking a touch inside as he uses his body to get by the Whitecaps’ winger.

When Aparicio is engaged centrally by a ‘Caps midfielder, he spots one of his midfield partners, Jamar Dixon, with space in front of him. Aparicio plays the ball ahead of Dixon as he drifts into that space.

Dixon’s calm first touch continues his movement forward as the ‘Caps attackers close him down both from his left and from behind. Pacific’s captain then spots an avenue to play a line-breaking pass into Campbell’s feet, which momentarily takes five Whitecaps players out of the game.

Dixon easily could’ve held onto the ball to keep possession in this situation, but spotting and playing that kind of pass is crucial to breaking down a team and shows the lack of fear this Pacific team played with in the match.

Campbell’s first touch isn’t actually the best here but the ball still falls to Josh Heard’s feet who is positioned just beyond him. Heard is somehow able to seamlessly poke the ball back into Campbell’s path which stops the move from breaking down around the box.

After getting control of the ball, Campbell skips by the ‘Caps left-back, taking the ball out of the congested area and into space out wide. He slows the move down for a moment here before spotting Aparicio providing a passing option inside.

Aparicio then squares up his man in a quick 1v1 situation just outside the Whitecaps’ box. With the defender flat-footed and his feet apart, Aparicio nutmegs him with the ball and glides around him.

It’s at this point where the attacking move becomes a little scrappy, but it’s more than just luck that creates this goal at the final stages.

Here, the ball twice ricochets/gets directed by Aparicio in the span of about a second. But it’s the midfield dynamo’s speed of movement and thought that creates the situation and keeps the move going.

Heard enters the move again at this stage. Now taking up the centre-forward position after Campbell had drifted out wide, Heard reacts the quickest when the ball is fired towards the top of the box and is able to sweep it forward as he falls down.

Having never stopped his run after nutmegging the defender, Aparicio receives the pass back from Heard while on the move and uses his first touch to take him past the stationary Vancouver defenders.

The space created by Aparicio’s assured touch in the box enables him to fire off a quick shot before anyone else can react.

This goal typified the Tridents lack of fear during the 2021 season. Playing against the more established team and rival next door neighbour could’ve been a moment too bright for the team in only it’s third year of existence, but not for Pacific FC.

After

Aparicio’s goal gave Pacific a 2-1 halftime lead and gave more proof to the team that a win in this match was possible. After Heard added a third goal in the 63rd minute and Alejandro Diaz scored what would prove to the winner in the 76th, Starlight Stadium erupted at the full-time whistle in celebration of the giant killing that took place.

Additionally, Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Dos Santos was relieved of his duties the next day and Pacific went on to reach the semi-finals of the Canadian Championship that year where they faced another MLS team in Toronto FC.

In the end, August 26th will forever be remembered as the night British Columbia turned purple.

Thank you for reading the second entry in the Anatomy of a PFC Goal series. If you missed the first entry, you can find it here.

Let’s hear from you! Comment on our social media post to give your take on this goal. Did you see it in person? Was it as good as you remember?

And what are some of your favourite PFC goals that you would like to see broken down next?

Our next home match is another All-BC battle in the Canadian Championship just like this one. Don’t miss the celebration of BC soccer taking place at Starlight Stadium when League 1 BC’s TSS FC Rovers come to the Island on Wednesday, May 1o. Get your tickets here!