Pacific FC has shown an aptitude for scoring goals. But every time one goes in, it never seems enough because it is either chasing an opposition lead or is followed almost immediately by a defensive lapse and a goal against.
The latter has been a killer this season in the Canadian Premier League for PFC (3-5-2 in spring season and is 0-3 in fall season). Case in point was Wednesday鈥檚 2-1 loss in Toronto against York9 in which Terran Campbell鈥檚 tying goal at 66 minutes was followed a minute later by Simon Adjei鈥檚 winner for York9.
It was a familiar refrain and the third time after Pacific FC鈥檚 last five goals that the opposition has responded with a goal of its own within five minutes or less.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been over this and it happened again and we need to stop doing that,鈥� said PFC head coach Michael Silberbauer.
鈥淔ootball games are won and lost on details.鈥�
A lot of the details lacking have been on the back end for PFC, which has had to go with a youthful and makeshift back line because of injuries. But soccer is a team game and defence is everybody鈥檚 business. If the ball comes into your team鈥檚 box and the defenders have to engage, something has fallen apart defensively in the offensive zone or midfield to allow that to happen.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not throwing anybody [on the back line] under the bus. We have to play defence as a team,鈥� said PFC midfielder Ben Fisk, who has worn the captain鈥檚 armband for several stints this season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a disappointing start to the fall season. There have been some positives on offence and the group has been clicking and getting the ball to good areas. The negatives have revolved around keeping the ball away from the opposition and out of our net.鈥�
The PFC offence has been led by 20-year-old Campbell鈥檚 five goals on the season. Campbell seems to have particularly found a rapport with Alexander Gonzalez, and has twice converted passes from the former Panama U-20 international and pro with CONCACAF Champions League experience.
鈥淸Campbell] has a bright future ahead of him in the sport,鈥� said Fisk.
鈥淥ne thing all of us are confident of is that when we play our game completely, we will be victorious.鈥�
Pacific FC gets another opportunity to set things right in the offence-defence balance this afternoon at 3 p.m. at Westhills Stadium against the HFX Wanderers of Halifax (3-5-2 and 1-2). The teams split their two earlier meetings 1-0 for PFC at Westhills and 2-1 for HFX at the Wanderers Grounds.
It鈥檚 a short turnaround for PFC from Wednesday鈥檚 game in Toronto. But it鈥檚 no different for HFX, which lost 2-0 to Forge FC that same night in Hamilton, Ont.
The 4,476-kilometres in the air between Victoria and Halifax represent the third-longest distance between franchises in a domestic pro Premiership soccer league anywhere in the world.
鈥淭he travel in sa国际传媒 is difficult, but it鈥檚 the same for every team, so there are no excuses,鈥� said Fisk, a former sa国际传媒 U-20 and U-23 player and overseas pro, with two caps with the senior national team.
鈥淲e should be used to it by now. Every team is in the same situation.鈥�
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