Final Score: Pacific FC 2-1 Atlético Ottawa (2-1 on agg.)
Goalscorers: Sellouf 27′ (pen.), Heard 34′; Salter 60′
2024 TELUS Canadian Championship — Quarter-Final (Leg 2)

Match in a minute or less

For the third time in four years, Pacific FC is off to the semifinals of the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Atlético Ottawa on both the night and aggregate at Starlight Stadium on Wednesday.

The Tridents advance largely on the back of an outstanding first half. After a barrage of chances, Ayman Sellouf opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 27th minute. Just seven minutes later, Tridents’ captain Josh Heard added what would end up being the winner. Atlético Ottawa substitute Sam Salter scored his side’s lone goal in a losing effort.

Pacific FC advance to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps in a home-and-away semifinal, which will kick off in early July — and will play their BC rivals for the third time in four tournaments.

Three Observations

Pacific FC stun Atlético Ottawa to set up semifinal rematch with rival Vancouver Whitecaps

In their most important match yet this year, Pacific FC delivered their best performance of 2024 in an outstanding Canadian Championship semifinal victory over Atlético Ottawa on Wednesday night at Starlight Stadium.

“We come out tonight and I think we show our potential,” said Pacific FC head coach James Merriman postgame. “We showed the quality that we have, we showed the togetherness, the spirit.”

After struggling heavily offensively the past few matches Pacific easily could have had more than the two goals they scored, registering 3.15 expected goals on 11 shots on target. They were a constant threat in transition, and showed a lack of fear and aggressiveness in the final third that had previously been missing for most of 2024.

While the goals and cohesion in the final third were a sight for sore eyes for Tridents fans, it was perhaps their midfield that delivered the most impressive performance. Missing key midfielder Cédric Toussaint, a trio of Pierre Lamothe, Sean Young and Steffen Yeates stepped up and dominated against one of the CPL’s most star-studded midfields.

Steffen Yeates, in particular was outstanding, creating five chances and completing 40 of 48 passes — while managing three shots on target himself. His ability to progress the ball through the lines on the small Starlight Stadium pitch has been a significant asset for Pacific this season.

“Tonight was a big test for Sean [Young] and Stef, to step up,” said Merriman. “We know the quality that Manu [Aparicio] brings, obviously and Ollie Bassett, Zapater. I think these guys are young Canadian central midfielders who are growing week in, week out, match to match. They have huge potential and huge quality. These are players that we want to see get to the next level at some point. So games like this are where they learn and where they take big steps forward in their development.”

As a result of their victory, Pacific now get an opportunity to play a familiar provincial foe in the semifinal. They take on back-to-back Canadian Champions, the Vancouver Whitecaps, whose last loss in this competition actually famously came against Pacific FC in a 4-3 loss during the 2021 preliminary round. The sides met again last year in the semifinal, with the Whitecaps prevailing 3-0.

Despite having twice played against the Whitecaps, the home-and-away nature of this year’s semifinal round means they will get the opportunity to play at BC Place for the first time in club history. Both of the previous contests between Pacific FC and the Whitecaps have been played at Starlight Stadium.

The series between the Whitecaps and Pacific has further significance, with a draw conducted at halftime of the Tridents’ match of Wednesday determining that the winner of their semifinal series will host the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship final.

“To bring [the Whitecaps] here to our fans, it’s everything, it’s massive,” said Merriman. “To give our players, the players with ambition in our team, they want an opportunity to show themselves, they want this game. They wanted to play an MLS team, and now they went and deserved it. They earned it and we’ll set up for that match when it comes. I know it’s later down the line, but that’s that’s the reward for the performance tonight.”

Outstanding first half from Pacific FC the catalyst for victory

Pacific FC head coach James Merriman said that his side would “go home feeling good” after holding Atlético Ottawa to a 0-0 draw in the nation’s capital in the first leg.

During an outstanding first half on Wednesday night, they proved why. Pacific, knowing they needed a goal in order to advance during the 90 minutes came out flying at Starlight Stadium. Before Atlético Ottawa had even attempted a shot at Sean Melvin’s net — or registered a touch in the Tridents’ box for that matter, Pacific had 12 shot attempts, six on target and, critically, a pair of goals.

“That was our plan, we wanted to win the first half,” said Merriman. “We wanted to attack the first half, put pressure on them without the ball, take away their build-up. We didn’t want to allow them space. We wanted to go forward quickly and transition and attack them…and that’s exactly what we did.”

Below is a look at the shot attempts from the opening half between the two sides (Atlético Ottawa, evidently is on the left) demonstrating just how dominant Pacific FC were during those 45 minutes.

They already had seven shots attempted, two of which were on net, before their eighth shot attempt of the match from Juan Quintana struck the hand of Atléti’s Rubén del Campo, winning a penalty in the 27th minute. Their ninth was a penalty cooly dispatched by Ayman Sellouf into the bottom right corner.

Just a few moments later, Sellouf hit the woodwork with a strike from distance. Captain Josh Heard latched onto the rebound and put the hosts up 2-0.

That offensive outburst, however, was made possible by an outstanding overall effort from Pacific, who were first to just about every ball on the pitch. They collectively won 11 tackles, and 57.5 per cent of the duels contested in the first half.

They certainly didn’t take their foot off the gas in the second half either, creating a number of other chances that they really should have buried. But their dominant first half made the difference on Wednesday.

Atlético Ottawa’s Canadian Championship woes continue as second-half comeback attempt falls short

For the first time this season, Atlético Ottawa blinked — suffering their first loss of the 2024 campaign in all competitions. Unfortunately for them, their only loss in ten matches in all competitions came in their biggest match of the season to date.

Atlético Ottawa stepped onto the pitch on Wednesday knowing that with the away goals rule in place, any draw in which goals were scored meant they would advance. So even after Pacific FC had taken a two-goal lead, they weren’t out of it, prompting a thrilling second half.

“We knew what was going on today, that they were going to try to take advantage of the game at home, and they took it,” said González. “Give credit to Pacific, because they did a good first half, and we were better, I think, in the second half. But not good enough to get the 2-2.”

Atleti certainly came close, as a well-taken 60th-minute goal scored by substitute Sam Salter seemed to ignite their belief. But in the end, they couldn’t turn a significant territorial advantage in the second half into the second goal which would have seen them advance.

The essential goal now for Atlético Ottawa will be to not let this loss derail what has been an outstanding start to the Canadian Premier League season. Through seven matches in the league they have 17 points, and sit top of the table heading into a clash with last-place Halifax Wanderers on Sunday.

A first-ever appearance in the Canadian Championship semifinal is not on the cards this season. But a second Canadian Premier League shield is still very much a possibility if they can manage this disappointment.

“Now we have to digest a little bit the frustration because we always want to win,” said Carlos González. “We wanted to be there in the semifinals, but now from tomorrow, thinking on the next game that’s going to be on Sunday against Halifax. We want to maintain our good dynamic until today.”

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Steffen Yeates, Pacific FC

Yeates was the engine in midfield for Pacific throughout the match on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he won possession eight times, while making five tackles and four interceptions. He also created five chances, and had three shots on target — perhaps unlucky not to find himself on the scoresheet during an otherwise exceptional performance.

Box Score

Lineups

Pacific FC: Melvin; Dada-Luke, Meilleur-Giguère, Quintana, Lajeunesse; Yeates, Lamothe (Amedume 90+4′), Young; Sellouf (Bahous 55′), Heard (Zanatta 78′), Moore 

Atlético Ottawa: Yesli; Twardek (Sissoko 73′), Didić, Singh, Tissot (Morer 23′); Bassett, Zapater (Antinoro 83′), Aparicio, de Brienne; Tabla (Salter 45′), del Campo

Goals

28′ — Ayman Sellouf (Pacific FC) (Penalty)
34′ — Josh Heard (Pacific FC)
60′ — Samuel Salter (Atlético Ottawa)

Discipline

24′ — Yellow: Amer Didić (Atlético Ottawa)
67′ — Yellow: Eric Lajeunesse (Pacific FC)
69′ — Yellow: Ollie Bassett (Atlético Ottawa)
87′ — Yellow: Aboubacar Sissoko (Atlético Ottawa)
89′ — Yellow: Reon Moore (Pacific FC)
90+2′ — Yellow: Samuel Salter (Atlético Ottawa)
90+8′ — Yellow: Gabriel Antinoro (Atlético Ottawa)

What’s next?

Pacific FC advance to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps in the home-and-away semifinals. The first leg will be played during the week of July 9-10 at Starlight Stadium, while the second leg takes place at BC Place on the week of August 27-28.

In league action, Atlético Ottawa return home to take on the Halifax Wanderers on Sunday, June 2 (2:00 p.m. ET). Pacific FC, meanwhile, host Cavalry FC on Saturday, June 1 at Starlight Stadium (4:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. ET).

Watch all TELUS Canadian Championship matches live on OneSoccer. In addition to its website and app, OneSoccer is now available on TELUS channel 980 and on Fubo TV. Call your local cable provider to ask for OneSoccer today.