First place Pacific FC picked up their fifth in seven games this CPL season, nabbing a 2-1 win over FC Edmonton at Starlight Stadium on Saturday, further extending their lead atop the league table. 

The hosts nearly got off to a dream start to the game inside five minutes, as Marco Bustos managed to slip in all alone behind the defence, and he’d unleash a strong shot, one that was only narrowly kept out by the strong hands of Darlington Murasiranwa. 

Likely ruing that missed chance, however, Pacific stayed on the hunt for an opening goal, and thanks to that, they’d find it just a few minutes later. After a nice ball into the box from Bustos, who did well to find a running Josh Heard into the box, Heard would slide the ball over to Alejandro Diaz, who’d slot the ball home from close range for his league-leading fifth goal of the season. 

Keeping up that strong start, Pacific nearly doubled their lead in the 27th minute, too, as Manny Aparicio nearly caught Murasiranwa out with a floated cross towards the back post, just sending his accidental attempt wide of the mark.

Despite that strong start, though, that would be all that both teams had to offer in the first half, one that ended up being quite uneventful despite the early goal, setting the table for an interesting second half.

That’d prove to be true, too, at least right away, as Diaz unleashed a decent volley from a tough angle inside just a few minutes, making great contact on the ball, but Murasiranwa would save the attempt rather easily despite that. 

A few minutes later, Bustos would manage to create some great separation for a shot just inside the box, having managed to cut in dangerously onto his right foot, but despite that, he’d be unable to turn his shot into a goal, instead sending it straight at Murasiranwa. 

At the other end, Edmonton then came alive, allowing them to craft their best look of the game up to that point in the 57th minute. After some nice interplay, the ball fell to Masta Kacher in a dangerous position at the edge of the box, and he did well to cut inside and rip a shot, one that’d sail just inches over the bar, nearly leading to a wonderful goal.

But having come close to getting back into the game, Edmonton would suffer a big blow in the 61st minute, as Pacific finally doubled their lead. Through some swift counter-attacking play, the ball fell to Aparicio out wide, and from there, he’d do the rest, slipping in a great low cross for Heard, who would tap home easily from short-range. 

Yet, that wouldn’t prove to be completely fetal for Edmonton, as just 10 minutes later, they’d get back in the game. Off of a dangerous corner into the box, the ball fell to second-half sub, Wesley Timoteo, at the back post, and he’d make no mistake with a wide-open chance, slotting home from right on the goal line to halve the hosts’ lead. 

But despite a late push, one that saw them fashion a couple of half-chances, none of them would be able to breach the Pacific defence once again, leaving the hosts to pick up the victory. 

BOX SCORE

Goals

10′ — Alejandro Diaz (Pacific FC) 

61′ — Josh Heard (Pacific FC) 

73′ — Wesley Timoteo (FC Edmonton) 

Discipline

10′ — Yellow Card: Terique Mohammed (FC Edmonton) 

74′ — Yellow Card: Kamron Habibullah (Pacific FC) 

85′ — Yellow Card: Djenairo Daniels (Pacific FC)