Story of the Match

Pacific FC’s playoff run continues after a gusty, backs-to-the-wall performance against HFX Wanderers FC in Halifax on Saturday. Pacific’s 1-0 win was enough to see the Tridents advance to the Canadian Premier League Playoffs semi-final against Cavalry FC in Calgary next weekend.

Preparation for the match was essentially non-existent for Pacific thanks to the quick turnaround from the mid-week match against York United FC on the Island. One cross-country trip later and the Tridents were on the opposite coast lining up against the Wanderers inside a jam-packed Wanderers Grounds. The match itself took shape very quickly with Pacific happy to allow Halifax possession, while cutting off passing lanes forward through the middle. The use of Easton Ongaro and Djenairo Daniels up top gave Pacific two excellent options as both outlets in attack and shields in defence to block off easy progressive passes. After frustrating Halifax for the opening half hour, the Tridents made the most of their opportunities to counter attack when Ongaro sprung Kekuta Manneh free down the left side. Manneh then burst past the Wanderers defender who came over to track him and crossed the ball for Djenairo Daniels, but it was another Halifax defender who was left with little choice but to deflect the ball into his own net. The goal gave Pacific a halftime lead and allowed the positive momentum to build even further.

That was evident in the second half when the ensuing Halifax onslaught came. Whether it was Amer Didic and Thomas Meilleur-Giguère putting their bodies on the line to head away crosses or block shots, George Mukumbilwa and Kunle Dada-Luke tracking the wide players and claiming any ball that came near them, Emil Gazdov showing confidence and shot-stopping ability in goal, or Sean Young and Manny Aparicio doing the work four players in the middle of the park, everyone who started or came on for the Tridents played a role in keeping the Wanderers at bay.

All told, it was truly a defensive masterclass from Pacific who were happy to suffer and soak up pressure without breaking. That’s now back-to-back 1-0 wins and clean sheets for the defensive unit, which appears to be adhering to the old saying of “defense wins championships” and helping that ring true in the playoffs so far. The job’s not finished, in fact it’s really just getting started. But the performances over the last two games, with the backdrop of so much adversity is a sign of team spirit and togetherness, have seldom been matched over the CPL’s five years.

Looking Ahead

Well, well, well. The Tridents playoff run in 2021 now looks to be repeating itself in 2023. That season it was an away date against Cavalry FC in the semi-final before moving onto Hamilton to face Forge FC in the final.

After Forge beat Cavalry 2-1 at ATCO Field on Saturday, the CPL Final will again be played in Hamilton and Cavalry will drop down to have a second chance through the other semi-final match against Pacific. Cavalry were far and away the best team in the regular season and are a confident team at home, but with the incredible momentum built up by the Tridents over the last week, this match look set to be an absolute barn-burner.

The continuous travel won’t be easy for Pacific, but the team has shown over the past two matches how much can be accomplished when fighting for each other and giving whatever it takes to win. Don’t expect that attitude to change next Saturday in Calgary.

PFC Standout Player(s): Amer Didic and Thomas Meilleur-Giguère

It is an impossible task to pick between these two behemoths at the back. Both Didic and Meilleur-Giguère were impeccable for Pacific on Saturday afternoon in Halifax, and played massive roles in the Tridents picking up a second straight clean sheet despite having their backs to the wall for most of the match.

Consistently one of the best, if not THE best, centre-back duo in the league, Didic and Meilleur-Giguère have gone from strength to strength this season. Saturday’s match was just the latest example of the bodies-on-the-line style of defending both of them possess.

Combined on Saturday, the pair accumulated 22 clearances, five aerial duels won, and 11 possession wins over the 90+ minutes against the Wanderers. If not for the sheer dominance of these two at the back, the scoreline could’ve been quite different in Halifax.

Scoring Summary

37’ – Pacific FC – Zachary Fernandez (Own Goal)

Statistics

Possession: PFC 28 % – HFX 72 %

Expected Goals: PFC 0.41 – HFX 0.74

Shots: PFC 8 – HFX 14

Shots on Target: PFC 1 – HFX 4

Saves: PFC 3 – HFX 1

Fouls: PFC 16 – HFX 10

Offsides: PFC 0 – HFX 2

Corners: PFC 6 – HFX 7

Cautions

49’ – Lorenzo Callegari – Yellow

50’ – Easton Ongaro – Yellow

80’ – Kunle Dada-Luke – Yellow

90+7’ – Doneil Henry – Yellow

90+8’ – Cédric Toussaint – Yellow