The defensive deadlock at Starlight Stadium on Wednesday night was finally broken in the 79th minute, as Easton Ongaro played hero for Pacific in their 1-0 win over Valour.

Ongaro’s goal, his third of the season, came on Pacific’s first shot on target of the match, which for the most part saw the two sides offer up very little in attack.

It was a third straight match that Pacific FC have won by a score of 1-0 on a late goal, as they now have a seven-point lead at the top of the CPL table — with a game in hand on the two sides directly below them. The Tridents have also gone eight matches without a loss in CPL action.

An energetic start to the match saw neither side give the other an inch, as there were eight fouls called in the first 15 minutes alone, with both teams pressing each other heavily in possession.

Chances were few and far between as a result, with the two teams cancelling one another out for the most part until a mistake at the back by Pacific’s Georges Mukumbilwa led to a Valour free kick just outside the box in the 30th minute. The initial attempt was blocked by the wall, but on the ensuing corner, the ball dropped to Dante Campbell who sent it wide from close range.

That was the biggest opportunity of an otherwise cagey opening 45 minute, during which neither side had a shot on target. The usually offensively dominant hosts were especially quiet as they managed just one attempted shot to Valour’s six.

The game had a similar complexion to start the second half, with nonthreatening long-range efforts from Walter Ponce and Manny Aparicio the only shot attempts from both sides in the early going. Pacific manager James Merriman was the first to look to shuffle the deck, bringing on Ayman Sellouf and Cédric Toussaint.

The match’s first shot on target from either side finally came in the 71st minute, but Campbell’s long strike from the top of the box was easily saved by Kieran Baskett. The visitors enjoyed a spell of possession after that around the Pacific area, but were unable to create any significant openings.

It was on the host’s first shot on target, however, that saw the matches opening goal in the 79th minute. A ball well won in the midfield by Manny Aparicio created an opportunity for Sellouf in transition, who dribbled his way into the centre of the attacking third before slipping a perfect ball through to Ongaro. The Pacific #9 made no mistake from close range, smashing the ball past Rayane Yesli to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The Valour goalkeeper was called into action again just a few minutes later, but this time was able to get his glove on a long-range effort from Sean Young. Ongaro then nearly added another in the dying moments as he was played in well by Sellouf again, but scuffed his finish and could not beat Yesli.

With the loss, the Winnipeg side have now lost three of their last four matches away from home. They have also not scored in their last three road matches.

BOX SCORE

Goals

79′ — Easton Ongaro (Pacific FC) 

Discipline

30′ — Yellow: Georges Mukumbilwa (Pacific FC)
58′ — Yellow: Dante Campbell (Valour FC)
77′ — Yellow: Cédric Toussaint (Pacific FC)
90′ + 4 — Yellow: Amer Didic (Pacific FC)