It was about as steely as victories get in the playoffs.
Pacific FC travelled the width of the country, on a short turnaround after playing Wednesday night, and into the jacked-up jaws of a sold-out Halifax crowd against a rested HFX Wanderers team and stole away a 1-0 quarter-final win.
The Tridents advanced to the Canadian Premier League semifinal in Calgary against the Cavalry FC next Saturday.
“With winning the [opening-round playoff game against York United at Starlight Stadium in injury time] late Wednesday night, the quick turnaround and travel and getting here less than 12 hours before game time, it was a rough 72 hours,” said PFC striker Kekuta Manneh.
It is the third-longest distance to travel in the world between Premiership soccer clubs.
“The travel has been horrible,” added the MLS veteran, in the post-game media conference.
“We put in everything and got rewarded in the end. We came in and got the job done.”
That was in large part to Manneh himself, as the former Vancouver Whitecaps forward accounted for the PFC goal with a strong run down the left and a centering pass that bounced off HFX defender Zach Fernandez’s leg and into the net. It was listed as an own goal but it was all Manneh.
The fourth-seed Tridents lined up 4-4-2, something they rarely do, as head coach James Merriman looked for anything that could throw off third-seed HFX.
“We played differently than we usually do. It was about keeping it simple,” said Manneh, who also assisted on the playoff game winner Wednesday night at Starlight Stadium in PFC’s 1-0 victory over fifth-seed York United.
“We had to dig deep against a very, very good HFX team. This is what this group is about. We fight to the end. And we had luck on our side and we’ll take that, too.”
With the lead, the Tridents hung back and absorbed wave after wave of HFX pressure in the late going, including two shots that rattled off the crossbar and two balls cleared off the line as the Wanderers failed to score at home for the first time since May 20.
“We did what the game called for with the lead and dropped back a bit,” said Manneh.
“Our back six and seven were fantastic today and made the game much easier for us [attacking players].”
So was rookie 20-year-old goalkeeper Emil Gazdov, who was there when needed to record his second consecutive clean sheet of the playoffs.
“Emil was nervous earlier in the season because of his age but you don’t see that anymore,” said PFC gaffer Merriman.
So much so that Gazdov turned to the boisterous HFX supporters behind the net and gave them a defiant salute when the final whistle sounded after more than 100 intense minutes of soccer.
Emotions were high across the pitch as the jubiliant PFC and frustrated HFX players scuffled a bit following the final whistle before being separated.
“It feels amazing because of how the regular season ended [three consecutive losses]. In adversity, you find out who you are,” said Merriman.
“I am proud of how we dealt with the quick turnaround and hostile environment.”
Noted Canadian soccer commentator Kristian Jack described it on OneSoccer as the greatest road victory in CPL history.
Forge FC of Hamilton beat Cavalry FC 2-1 in Calgary in the 1-2 playoff of the Page playoff system on Saturday. Forge FC will host the CPL final in two weeks at Tim Hortons Field and Cavalry will host PFC in the semifinal next week.
The CPL playoff champion will earn a berth into the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League to join CPL regular-season champion Cavalry FC.
