PACIFIC FC 2 FC EDMONTON 1
Pacific FC defender Kadin Chung not only wore the captain鈥檚 armband at Clarke Stadium, but also the mantle of winning-goal scorer in PFC鈥檚 2-1 victory over FC Edmonton as the Island club crossed the Rockies to scoop up three points for a good night鈥檚 work in the Canadian Premier League on Saturday.
鈥淜adin Chung is the Ironman for us and has played every minute and every second,鈥� said PFC head coach Pa-Modou Kah.
Chung鈥檚 shot from well outside the box found the net at 34 minutes to make it 2-0.
Pacific opened its scoring account at 28 minutes when striker Terran Campbell hit the bar with a header off Josh Heard鈥檚 cross and Alejandro Diaz knocked home the rebound for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
鈥淸Diaz] has played in the top league in Mexico, and the CPL is learning about him,鈥� Kah said.
Diaz appreciates Kah鈥檚 attacking mentality, which has made PFC the highest-scoring team in the CPL.
鈥淲e train to create chances and score goals, and it鈥檚 showing right now,鈥� Diaz said.
鈥淚 was expecting some sort of rebound on that play and I scored on it.鈥�
FC Edmonton鈥檚 lanky and dangerous striker Easton Ongaro turned the PFC defence inside out in pulling the Eddies to within one at 72 minutes.
Pacific was further pressed when sa国际传媒-capped veteran midfielder Jamar Dixon was sent off after his second yellow card at 80 minutes.
It suddenly seemed a reprise of the last meeting between the clubs, when the Eddies overcame a 2-0 deficit to tie PFC 2-2 at Starlight Stadium, might be in the offing.
But the Tridents held tight this time.
鈥淲e dug in deep,鈥� said Kah.
It was a tale of two halves.
鈥淚t was a tough game,鈥� said Diaz.
鈥淚n the first half we had possession and they [3-8-5 Eddies] were pressuring in the second half.鈥�
Cavalry FC of Calgary, with its 1-0 victory over Valour FC of Winnipeg on Saturday afternoon, continued apace with Pacific at the top of the CPL table as both clubs moved to 9-3-4, six points clear of third-place Forge FC of Hamilton.
The Island and Calgary clubs are headed for a showdown Thursday evening at Starlight Stadium.
