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Pacific FC vs. Atlético Ottawa: Tridents riding high at The Island Games
Canadian Premier League

2020 CPL regular season (The Island Games) — Match #23
Pacific FC vs. Atlético Ottawa
September 2, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. AT
UPEI Artificial Turf Field in Charlottetown, PEI

Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca


Is Pacific FC the best team in the CPL right now?

That’s certainly debatable, and the three clubs above them in the standings at the moment (Forge FC, Cavalry FC and York9 FC) would certainly beg to differ. But there’s no denying that Pacific is the hottest team in the league at the moment, as they’re riding a two-game winning streak that includes an impressive 2-1 decision over Cavalry.

The Tridents will attempt to make it three in a row and take a big step towards clinching a second-round berth when they face Atlético Ottawa on Wednesday night in Charlottetown.

Ottawa, meanwhile is still licking its wounds after suffering a 2-0 loss to Forge FC on the weekend, marking the second time they’ve been blanked at The Island Games.

Depending on how the Valour-HFX match on Wednesday afternoon plays out, this could be a must-win game for Atlético. If Valour wins, then a loss to Pacific would officially eliminate Ottawa from contention at The Island Games.


RELATED READING: 2020 CPL regular season: The Island Games


3 THINGS TO WATCH

  • Pacific must stay focused: The Tridents are come off a pair of big wins, including an upset 2-1 decision over Cavalry FC. As a result, five members of Pacific FC were named to the CPL’s team of the week: Marco Bustos, Alejandro Diaz, Victor Blasco, Jordan Haynes, and Kadin Chung. The West Coast clubs is riding high, but they can’t afford to lose their focus against a struggling Ottawa side. Pacific needs to live up to the hype they’re getting at the moment by putting in a professional effort against Atlético.
  • Chance creation by Ottawa: Atlético out-possessed and out-passed Forge over 90 minutes, but Mista’s side was unable to create dangerous scoring chances or break down the CPL champs. Francisco Acuña’s sixth-minute strike was the lone shot that Ottawa managed from inside the 18-yard box. That’s simply not good enough, and they have to do a better job of using the flanks. “Looking back we should have played a bit more to the outside right then go through the middle,” Mista lamented after the loss to Forge.
  • Pacific’s deadly trio: Marco Bustos, Alejandro Diaz and Victor Blasco might be the most dangerous attacking trio in the CPL at the moment. Each of them have been outstanding on an individual basis in PEI, but they’ve also effectively linked up as the first round has progressed. Last week the trio combined for four goals and three assists, and they have to be salivating at the prospect of facing an Ottawa team that has the second-worst defensive record in the CPL, with 10 goals against.
Ottawa's Francisco Acuña surrounded by FC Edmonton players. (CPL/Chant Photography)
Ottawa’s Francisco Acuña surrounded by FC Edmonton players. (CPL/Chant Photography)

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“We have done nothing. We haven’t played any finals yet so we’re not to their level. We need to remember that.” – Pacific coach Pa-Modou Kah, after the Cavalry game.

“(Pacific is) one of the teams I like the most at the tournament. Aggressive, good in transition and they’re playing a good level. On our end, we continue down our path which is investing in growth and getting better every game.” – Ottawa coach Mista.

PREVIOUS MEETING

This is their first meeting

REFEREES

Referee: Filip Dujic
ARs: Stefan Tanaka-Freundt & Travis Lefebvre
4th Official: Yusri Rudolf

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