Valour FC head coach Phillip Dos Santos admits that if in the preseason he had been offered a guaranteed point in a visit to Starlight Stadium, by say, a magic genie, he would have taken it.
He got his wish, but in a bittersweet fashion, as the Winnipeg club settled for a 2-2 Canadian Premier League draw after taking 2-0 lead Saturday in Langford.
“It was disappointing in that we were up 2-0 and looking at all three points, but when you look at the big picture, we have to accept it,” he said.
“We took it on the chin. We had the three points. But you move on.”
Valour FC, vastly improved since Dos Santos took the helm midway through last season, are 2-2-3 in wins-losses-draws. Defending CPL-champion PFC moved to 5-1-3 atop the table before 2,962 fans.
The Tridents’ comeback began when Dutch import Gianni dos Santos tattooed a lacerating long shot to the back of the net at 56 minutes. Valour FC goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, on loan from CF Montreal of Major League Soccer, had no chance.
“I thought this is my moment. I know I have a good shot,” said dos Santos.
Former Mexico U-20 and U-23 player Alejandro Diaz levelled for the hosts at 71 minutes for his league-leading sixth goal of the season off a deft assist from Josh Heard.
“We kept our focus, kept calm and didn’t force anything. We have full trust in our abilities, especially at home, with the fans behind us,” said PFC forward dos Santos.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win.”
On a day like this, that fact seemed relative for both sides.
“It’s been an extremely competitive season,” said Valour bench boss Dos Santos, former assistant coach in the MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
“You have to show up each night.”
Former sa国际传媒 U-17 player Sean Rea, on loan from MLS CF Montreal, caught PFC ’keeper Callum Irving too far out with an expertly taken long chip at 36 minutes.
“What Montreal does [with Rea], I don’t know. But he is putting himself in good [career] position,” said Dos Santos.
Midfielder Daryl Fordyce scored off a scrambly corner kick at 48 minutes to give Valour FC the two-goal advantage.
“We had a good start at 2-up but we have to see it out,” said Fordyce, who made 12 national-team appearances in U-21 for Northern Ireland.
“We were disappointed not to get the three points but we showed how far we have come as a team. It was a tough game, for sure, and this is not an easy place to come to, but we believe in ourselves.”
Pacific FC embarks on a three-game road swing and will not return to Starlight Stadium until June 25 in a coast-to-coast duel against the HFX Wanderers of Halifax.
