Pacific FC left it for late but not too late.
Adonijah Reid’s goal in injury time (90+2) gave fourth-seed Pacific FC a dramatic 1-0 victory over fifth-seed York United in the single-loss elimination Canadian Premier League playoff opening game Wednesday night at Starlight Stadium.
Former sa国际传媒 U-20 striker Reid converted an assist from MLS veteran Kekuta Manneh to prolong the Tridents’ season. Reid, a 2017 second-round MLS draft pick of FC Dallas, came into the game at 83 minutes to relieve captain Josh Heard.
“Anytime you’re on the bench, you want to play more. But when you get the chance, you’ve got to take it … and be a difference maker,” said Reid.
That’s exactly what he became.
Manneh was also a late second-half sub. Reid said he saw Manneh, just moments before, make a play similar to the one that led to the winning goal — so when the ball came into Reid later in that fashion from Manneh, he was ready for it and converted.
It was a bitter return to the Island for Victoria-raised York United head coach Martin Nash. The 38-time sa国际传媒-capped former midfielder with the Vancouver Whitecaps had his club in the playoffs in his second season at the helm, rallying from the brink with two wins to close out and earn the fifth and final playoff berth.
“I thought it was a really good performance, to be honest,” said St. Michaels University School-grad Nash.
“We just couldn’t find a way into the back of the net. That hurts for how well we played. It was tough. I thought we were going to get extra time. Pacific played well and found the goal. They took their chance. That’s the way it is often in playoff games. We’ve come through a lot but are stronger for it.”
While it was a clean sheet for PFC goalkeeper Emil Gazdov, it was heartbreak for York United goalkeeper Nico Giantsopoulos, who said: “We’re all pretty numb. It’s an unfortunate way to end.”
York United had a shot rattle off the crossbar in the first half while Giantsopoulos cleared the ball off the goal line in the second half to deny PFC’s Thomas Meilleur-Giguère as both clubs looked for that one moment that might prove the difference in the tight and tense affair. It was finally provided by Reid.
PFC advances to meet the third-seed HFX Wanderers in Halifax on Saturday in the CPL quarter-final of the Page playoff system. The winner between PFC and HFX will advance to the semifinal Oct. 21 against either regular-season champion Cavalry FC or second-place Forge FC.
Cavalry and Forge will meet in the 1-2 playoff Saturday in Calgary with the winner going to the CPL final and the loser to host the semifinal on Oct. 28 against the survivor of the PFC-HFX quarter-final.
The CPL playoff champion will earn a berth into the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League to join regular-season champion Cavalry FC. If the Calgary club also wins the playoff title, regular-season runner-up Forge FC of Hamilton will get the second CPL berth into the Champions League.
