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The entire Pacific FC team huddles before heading to penalties in the Canadian Championship quater-final against York United FC (Sheldon Mack/Pacific FC)
Match Report – Pacific FC v York United FC: Last-second Didic goal sends match to penalties but Tridents ultimately lose
May 25, 2022
by
Jack Longo

What Went Right

Pacific has had to put out very mis-matched midfields over the past couple games, but despite that, the group has done very well to keep things ticking. Against York, Jamar Dixon was paired with Luca Ricci at the base of midfield while Alejandro Diaz dropped a little deeper than usual as a pseudo attacking midfielder. Ricci came away with the assist for Amer Didic’s opening goal and generally looked very assured during his first PFC start. Dixon’s leadership and tenacity in midfield helped Pacific stay on the front foot despite being a goal down for all but a literal second of the second half. And Diaz’s shift there was nothing knew as he’s been placed in many different positions recently due to his immense technical ability and spacial awareness. As the game wore on, we also saw Thomas Meilleur-Giguère and Marco Bustos have shifts in the centre of the park.

The team’s spirit to fight right to the very end was a clear sign this team has no concept of self-doubt. They were ultimately rewarded with the absolute rocket of a goal by Didic in the dying seconds, but it felt like a goal could come for all of the second half.

What Can Improve

It’s so tough to go out on penalties, especially at home. I don’t like the idea that penalties are a lottery, because it’s still a game of wits and technique, but sometimes things don’t break your way. Ultimately, the team did so well to take the game to penalties in the first place and maybe it just wasn’t meant to be last night. And there’s still positives to take from the shootout; all the boys who stepped up to take a penalty showed incredible poise and bravery despite it not ending how we would’ve liked.

Looking Ahead

Frankly, it’s gonna be rough to have no domestic cup run this season, but the league championship still needs to be defended, plus there’s an international cup competition to prepare for this summer in the CONCACAF League. It really stings to go out in this fashion, but there’s plenty of soccer left and many opportunities to grab so many victories we forget the hurt we feel now. Overall, the squad can now turn their focus to mapping out the rest of the regular season and repeating as champions, plus going deep in the CONCACAF League.

Favourite Moment

The easiest pick all season. Starlight Stadium absolutely exploded when Didic scored the last-second equalizer. It felt like there were 30,000 people in the building.

It wasn’t just the late equalizer though, the home fans were boisterous and enthusiastic all throughout despite it being a mid-week match. And we may not have won, but seeing Starlight filled with the passion we saw on Tuesday reminds me how special this sport is even when things don’t go your way.

Favourite Photo

PFC_9372

 PFC Standout Player: Amer Didic

Two absolutely fantastic goals. The second of which was one of the purest strikes Starlight has ever seen.

Defensively, Didic was very solid. The six-foot-four centre-back had five clearances, three headed clearances, 10 recoveries, and won six aerial duels, but this match will be remembered for his offensive contributions that kept Pacific alive, as well as the ridiculously loud roar the crowd let out when his 97th minute equalizer went in.

Scoring Summary

11’ – Pacific FC – Amer Didic

25’ – York United FC – Roger Thompson

31’ – York United FC – Osaze De Rosario

90+7’ – Pacific FC – Amer Didic

Penalties

Round 1:

York United: Diyaeddine Abzi (Goal)

Pacific FC: Alejandro Diaz (Missed)

Round 2:

York United: Dominick Zator (Goal)

Pacific FC: Thomas Meilleur-Giguère (Goal)

Round 3: 

York United: Mateo Hernández (Goal)

Pacific FC: Gianni Dos Santos (Goal)

Round 4:

York United: Eduardo Jesus (Missed)

Pacific FC: Djenairo Daniels (Goal)

Round 5: 

York United: Jordan Wilson (Goal)

Pacific FC: Marco Bustos (Missed)

Statistics

Possession: PFC 56 % – YRK 44 %

Shots: PFC 15 – YRK 9

Shots on Goal: PFC 3 – YRK 2

Saves: PFC 0 – YRK 1

Fouls: PFC 17 – YRK 17

Offsides: PFC 0 – YRK 5

Corners: PFC 3 – YRK 1

Cautions

13’ – Noah Verhoeven – Yellow

29’ – Chrisnovic N’sa – Yellow

36’ – Dominick Zator – Yellow

45’ – Sebastián Gutiérrez – Yellow

57’ – Isaiah Johnston – Yellow

79’ – Djenairo Daniels – Yellow

82’ – Josh Heard – Yellow

90’ – Mateo Hernandez – Yellow

90+1’ – Niko Giantsopoulos – Yellow

90+8’ – Amer Didic – Yellow