Pacific FC is in the nation’s capital today amid a swirl of weekend soccer news across the country.
“We’ve got the national team preparing for the World Cup [although the scheduled sa国际传媒-Panama friendly today at sa国际传媒 Place was embroiled in a players’ dispute], CPL teams playing MLS clubs [Forge FC versus Toronto FC in the delayed 2021 Canadian Championship] and that shows the sport is growing across the country and more people are paying attention to it,” said Merriman.
“A big part of that energy is the CPL.”
Which continues Sunday with PFC (5-1-3 in wins-losses-draws) meeting Atlético Ottawa (4-2-2) at 10 a.m. PT at TD Place Stadium, also home of the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL. The Ottawa club, owned by Spanish La Liga giant Atlético Madrid, is coming off two road wins and is tied for second place in the CPL table with Cavalry FC of Calgary, four points behind PFC with a game in hand. PFC appears to have levelled off after three wins to start the season and comes in following two league draws.
Atlético Ottawa, last in the league last season, is the most improved club in the CPL under new head coach Carlos González, a Spaniard who has coached the Kuwait national team.
“Ottawa has had good results in their last two games and we have to be ready,” said Merriman.
“I believe we’re getting stronger as a group, even though the results have not gone our way the past few games.”
Everybody gets up to play the holders.
“As the defending league champion, you know teams are going to come after you,” said Merriman.
“We have felt that pressure. But pressure is a privilege.”
Ottawa is tough on defence and has had three clean sheets on the season.
“They are organized and compact,” said Merriman.
Offensively, Ottawa relies on the counter attack through Ballou Tabla, the former MLS striker with CF Montreal, who played for sa国际传媒 in Under-17, U-20 and U-23, and has two caps with the senior national team. Also to be watched is former PFC attacking-midfielder Ollie Bassett, the former Northern Ireland U-19 international, who showed intriguing flashes last season with the Tridents and has grown into a more full role with Ottawa.
“Ollie has had a bright start and we have to be mindful of him,” said Merriman.
It is a homecoming for three PFC players who played for the former Ottawa Fury pro club. Tridents captain Jamar Dixon is a native of Ottawa, who originally came to the Island to play three seasons with the amateur Victoria Highlanders, before being capped three times for sa国际传媒 and playing pro in Europe and four seasons with the Fury. PFC veteran goalkeeper Callum Irving came out of NCAA Div. 1 with the University of Kentucky Wildcats to play three seasons with the Fury. Tridents defender and former sa国际传媒 U-20 and U-23 player Thomas Meilleure-Giguère played two seasons with the Fury on loan from Montreal of MLS.
The Tridents won the first game this season in Ottawa 1-0 thanks to Irving’s goaltending heroics. PFC is 3-1-1 all-time against Atlético Ottawa.
CORNER KICKS: As 2021 CPL champions, the Pacific FC will represent in the 2022 CONCACAF League competition against top clubs from Central America and the Caribbean. The draw will be made during a ceremony Wednesday.
