Pundits can analyze tonight’s opening-round Canadian Premier League playoff match-up to a state of paralysis. What matters more — that fourth-seed Pacific FC had three wins and a draw against fifth-seed York United in the regular season? Or that PFC has won only twice in its last 10 games and is drifting into the playoffs on three consecutive losses while York United comes in with momentum and two consecutive wins?
And will York United having had the most road points this season with 24, including seven road wins to only four at home, play a factor tonight at Starlight Stadium? Or that the Tridents have uncharacteristically underperformed this year at their former stronghold Starlight with only five wins in 14 home games?
Just toss all that stuff out the window, says PFC midfield engine Manny Aparicio: “You can look at past games but the playoffs are a different beast. It comes down to one game and you’ve got to take care of business. We didn’t finish the way we wanted to but we know what we are capable of. It’s one game at a time. That’s the beauty of playoff football. Teams can win at any time.”
Those were much the same thoughts echoed by PFC head coach James Merriman: “Knockout football is different. It’s about will and mindset more than tactics. Playoffs come down to spirit and focus. Whichever team wants to win the match more will win the game. We want to leave our fans with a good image [tonight will be PFC’s final appearance of the year at Starlight Stadium regardless of result].”
There is a sense, however, the Tridents are entering on the back foot in terms of recent form.
“We were frustrated with the way that our season ended. We can use that in a positive way. We can use that in a way to motivate ourselves for this match,” said Merriman.
“We know the journey, and that we’ve made it difficult on ourselves, but this is where we are and we need to take the opportunity that we have.”
A win in the last regular-season game, a 3-0 loss in Calgary, would have given the Tridents second place.
“We didn’t think we would be in this position,” admitted Aparicio.
“This is a good opportunity to see what we’re made of. We’ve got to stick together as a team and find our way through this.”
Victoria-raised York United head coach Martin Nash returns to the Island. The 38-time sa国际传媒-capped former midfielder with the Vancouver Whitecaps has his club in the playoffs in his second season at the helm, rallying from the brink with two wins to close out and earn the fifth and final playoff berth. But it comes with no chance of a home game throughout, which isn’t an issue for a team that was terrible at home and far more effective on the road.
“I don’t think any team wants to see us [in the playoffs], because we’ve been really good on the road,” Nash told CPL.com.
“For whatever reason this year, it’s been a comfort zone for us to be on the road. The run is not going to be easy, no matter where we go, but we believe in ourselves.”
The winner of tonight’s PFC-York United playoff game will advance to meet the third-place HFX Wanderers in Halifax on Saturday in a quarter-final of the Page playoff system. The winner between PFC/York and HFX will advance to the semifinal Oct. 21 against either regular-season champion Cavalry FC or second-place Forge FC.
Cavalry and Forge will meet in the 1-2 playoff Saturday in Calgary with the winner going to the CPL final and the loser to host the semifinal on Oct. 28 against the survivor of the HFX, PFC, York United bracket.
The CPL playoff champion will earn a berth into the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League to join regular-season champion Cavalry FC. If the Calgary club also wins the playoff title, regular-season runner-up Forge FC of Hamilton will get the second CPL berth into the Champions League.
