Pacific FC started 2022 where it left off in 2021.
The Tridents defeated Forge FC 2-1 in the opening game of the Canadian Premier League soccer season before 4,037 fans Sunday at Starlight Stadium. It was a reprise of the CPL championship game last year in which PFC defeated Forge FC 1-0 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont.
“We wanted to be up for the occasion and the full house and to start on the front foot,” said PFC head coach James Merriman.
That’s exactly what the Tridents did, and early, as striker Alejandro Diaz made no mistake on a fine crossing play by Josh Heard at just five minutes to amplify an already boisterous crowd.
“Our fans in Starlight are amazing and we have to show them what we are capable of. It was high intensity and high pressure and we finished our opportunities,” said Diaz, the former Mexico U-17, U-20 and U-23 international who has played for Club America in Liga MX.
His goal was especially meaningful for Diaz because he missed last year’s championship game against Forge FC for personal reasons.
PFC had four prime chances and converted on two of them. Diaz, who scored 10 goals for the Tridents last season, was denied from point blank on a cross from Manny Aparicio. Marco Bustos, on a free kick from the edge of the box in the first half labeled his shot for the top corner, but was stopped by a marvelous diving catch save by Hammers goalkeeper Christopher Kalongo.
But the crafty Bustos, capped six times for sa国际传媒, made no mistake on another free kick from the side edge of the box and found six-foot-three Amer Didic for a header goal at 57 minutes.
sa国际传媒-capped Didic, who had moved up for the set piece, was also outstanding in his own end in making his PFC debut after coming across the Rockies from FC Edmonton and will be a more than able replacement at centre back for Lukas MacNaughton, who moved up in the off season to Toronto FC of Major League Soccer.
“Our back four played very well,” said Merriman.
The stout back-line play was anchored by Didic and included former West Ham Academy and Cavalry CPL player Nathan Mavila, sa国际传媒 U-23 Tokyo Olympic team CONCACAF qualifiers selection Thomas Meilleur-Giguere and the ever-hustling Kunle Dada-Luke.
That built the foundation of the victory and projected out to the opportunistic PFC midfield and forward corps.
“We want to build off what we did last year,” said Merriman, the three-season assistant coach who took over as head coach from Pa-Modou Kah, who departed to become head coach of the main farm team of FC Dallas of MLS.
“We were bright, energetic and on the front foot. There was transition in the off-season and a lot of talk about how we would respond. This was a performance we can build on.”
Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson converted on a header off a corner kick to bring Forge FC, the 2019 and 2020 CPL champions, to within one at 89 minutes.
“We switched off for a moment and you can’t do that against this Forge team,” said Merriman.
There was also the personal rivalry aspect with two former PFC stars — three-season Trident stars Terran Campbell and Alessandro Hojabrpour — now with rival Forge FC and returning to their former Starlight Stadium stomping ground to meet their old teammates. Campbell is the leading scorer in PFC club history and Hojabrpour scored the goal that gave the Tridents the victory over Forge FC last year in the championship game. Hojabrpour had three close chances Sunday, one on a pass from Campbell, but just missed in his return to the Island.
CORNER KICKS: PFC played the opener in a Coast Salish themed third jersey designed by artist Maynard Johnny Jr.
“We are proud to represent,” said Merriman.
Johnny Jr. said the design was a reflection of his and his family’s story: “I’ve created this design with the idea of truth and reconciliation with Pacific FC to raise awareness of what needs to be done in sa国际传媒. Having a sports team like Pacific FC wear something that reflects Indigenous people’s culture and history will raise questions and awareness.”
