Pacific FC played soccer Sunday on the same day as the U.S. Open men’s final, so perhaps a tennis analogy is in order: The Tridents held serve and that’s about it in a 1-1 draw against Atletico Ottawa at Starlight Stadium.
“I was disappointed. We wanted more. It was there for us,” said PFC head coach James Merriman.
“It feels like a missed opportunity. We need to understand this and be hungrier. We have to want more, especially in the 20-30 minutes.”
The Tridents practically gave away a goal at 26 minutes when Kunle Dada-Luke tripped wily-dribbler and 13-time sa国际传媒-capped Maxim Tissot in what in hindsight was an unnecessary slight-touch challenge just inside the very top-edge corner of the box. Former PFC midfielder and Northern Ireland U-19 international Ollie Bassett converted the penalty kick and then gestured to the fans who once cheered for him.
The Tridents levelled just before half-time on a howitzer of a free kick from defender Amer Didic that found both the Ottawa wall and goalkeeper Nathan Ingham out of sorts.
“I always know I can get good pace on the ball,” said Didic, the six-foot-four sa国际传媒-capped former Sporting Kansas City MLS prospect, who was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina before coming to sa国际传媒 as a kid following the Bosnian War.
“Set pieces are vital, as was shown today. We have struggled with set pieces this season [especially defensively with the other team taking] and they have been a negative aspect of our game. We have worked on it and need to capitalize on more of them.”
Didic has been the exception for PFC on free kicks and also corners.
“Amer has great technique and great power [on set-pieces],” said Merriman.
Looking comfortably ensconced in a playoff position a month ago, meanwhile, the Tridents suddenly find themselves tied for the fourth and final playoff position in a tight five-way race. Gaining just one point over the last four league games will do that to you.
“It’s been an up-and-down season of highs and lows,” said Didic.
“We need to be sharper and more threatening and more lethal down the stretch. There are five games left and it’s a top-five battle. It’s going to be close and every point matters. We are gutted not to get three points today.”
Pacific FC is tied for fourth-place with Valour FC of Winnipeg and trails third-place Cavalry FC of Calgary by two points, but PFC holds a game in hand on both clubs. The Tridents are three points adrift of second-place Forge FC of Hamilton.
Atletico Ottawa, owned by La Liga giant Atletico Madrid, have been the surprise of the season in going from missing the playoffs last year to topping the table this season with 41 points (11-5-8 in wins-losses-draws). Ottawa is five points ahead of PFC (10-7-6) and unbeaten in five games.
“The organization has done a good job of bringing in the right players,” said Atletico goalkeeper Ingham.
Added head coach Carlos Gonzalez, a Spaniard who has coached the Kuwait national team: “We are building a great team, a winning team.”
So much so that even draws suffice better for the leaders than they do for the other four teams in the hunt.
“Both goals felt a bit like mistakes. But this outcome was less frustrating for us, and the point feels better, because of where we are in the table,” said Ingham.
Added bench boss Gonzalez: “Scratching any points is important, especially against teams you are [fighting against for playoff positions]. If you can’t win them, you can’t lose them.”
Pacific FC plays Forge FC in another key match-up Sunday at Starlight Stadium.
