Story of the Match
What a way to mark your first-ever away day on the Mainland! Pacific FC’s 6-3 victory over Vancouver FC in Langley is now the highest-scoring match in Canadian Premier League history and sent the Tridents to the top of the league for the night. The match itself had everything you want/need from a derby: fiery duels on the pitch, passion in the stands, goals, cards, penalties, and more.
The fireworks started right away as Amer Didic headed home Adonijah Reid’s corner in the third minute to open the scoring for Pacific. After Vancouver got a goal back a few minutes later, PFC captain Josh Heard scored a belter from outside the box – again assisted by Reid – to give Pacific the lead again. The Tridents continued to look good throughout the first half and were playing up the occasion in a good way. The home side scored an injury time goal at the end of the first half, however, and sent the teams to the dressing rooms all square at halftime.
After more positive play to begin the second half, the substitution of Ayman Sellouf into the match in the 5helped turn the tides completely for Pacific. The Dutchman scored just seven minutes after entering the pitch, and then laid on an assist for fellow substitute Easton Ongaro a couple minutes later. That three minute spell made it 4-2 for Pacific, and from there they didn’t look back. A Manny Aparicio penalty in the 80th minute, a penalty for Vancouver, and a rocket from Kekuta Manneh for his first PFC goal saw the match finish 6-3 for Pacific and sent the strong group of away supporters on a very happy ferry ride home the next day.
Looking Ahead
After the match finished on Friday night, the Tridents had taken over top spot in the CPL table from Forge FC with both teams having played eight matches. Forge then played out a 1-1 draw in their match on Saturday to take over first place again, but by only a point and having played one more match than Pacific.
All that to say, next up on the schedule is a trip to Hamilton where the top two teams in the league will battle it out to see who will sit first with just over a quarter of the season done. A win for Pacific would take them two points clear with a match in hand and build the positive momentum even more.
Favourite Moment
Scoring in the derby is one thing. Scoring an absolute screamer past one of your best buds in the derby where both of you are playing for your hometown clubs… that’s next level.
GOAL 🔱🔱@PacificFCCPL go up again over @VanFootballClub as Josh Heard hits a curling strike into the top corner 😎#CanPL | 🔴 https://t.co/7JFAUhgRAE pic.twitter.com/EZ0DrgdwzL
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 3, 2023
PFC Standout Player: Ayman Sellouf
The introduction of Ayman Sellouf in the 59th minute helped change the match for Pacific. After feeling aggrieved to not go into the halftime break leading, the Tridents needed a spark to gain the advantage again. Enter, Sellouf.
Just seven minutes after being substituted in, Sellouf was sprung free on the counter by Cedric Toussaint. The winger then isolated his defender, who was on a yellow card, and made him back-pedal all the way to the top of the 18-yard box. Once in range for an effort on target, Sellouf cut inside and feinted past a couple more Vancouver defenders before sliding the ball into the far, bottom corner to give Pacific a 3-2 lead. From there, the Tridents didn’t look back. Just two minutes later, Sellouf received the ball in space on the counter-attack again and this time slide the ball through to Easton Ongaro who rifled the ball into the back of the net to double the lead in the span of a couple minutes. Sellouf finished the match with a goal and an assist, and now sits second in the CPL in both statistical categories for the season.
Scoring Summary
3’ – Pacific FC – Amer Didic
7’ – Vancouver FC – Min-Jae Kwak
24’ – Pacific FC – Josh Heard
45+’ – Pacific FC – Tj Tahid
66’ – Pacific FC – Ayman Sellouf
68’ – Pacific FC – Easton Ongaro
80’ – Pacific FC – Manny Aparicio (Penalty)
87’ – Pacific FC – Shaan Hundal (Penalty)
90+’ – Pacific FC – Kekuta Manneh
Statistics
Possession: PFC 58 % – VFC 42 %
Expected Goals: PFC 2.61 – VFC 1.63
Shots: PFC 13 – VFC 14
Shots on Target: PFC 8 – VFC 8
Saves: PFC 5 – VFC 2
Fouls: PFC 8 – VFC 11
Offsides: PFC 1 – VFC 1
Corners: PFC 3 – VFC 6
Cautions
9’ – Ibrahim Bakare – Yellow
19’ – Manny Aparicio – Yellow
52’ – Tj Tahid – Yellow
68’ – Adonijah Reid – Yellow
86’ – Amer Didic – Yellow