The spectre of two regular-season losses this year at Spruce Meadows hangs over Island-based Pacific FC for today’s Canadian Premier League soccer playoff semifinal game at 1 p.m. PT in Calgary against Cavalry FC.
But an even bigger spectre — the last playoff semifinal in Calgary between the clubs in 2021 — continues to haunt Cavalry FC. They thought it was their year, but the ever-hustling Kunle Dada-Luke of PFC had other ideas in extra time when he saved the ball just before it rolled over the end line to deflect it in off Cavalry goalkeeper Marco Carducci for the winning goal.
PFC went on to beat Forge FC in the 2021 CPL championship game at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont.
Carducci is still in goal for Cavalry FC but Dada-Luke will be missing today due to a two-game red card suspension for a gesture directed at the Halifax fans following last weekend’s 1-0 playoff-quarterfinal victory over the HFX Wanderers in Nova Scotia. PFC appealed but the red card, and automatic two-game suspension that goes with it, was upheld by the league.
“[Dada-Luke] has played so many games for us and is always one of the first names on the team sheet. [But] we have to believe in our players and the next man up mentality,” said PFC head coach James Merriman.
“We’re OK with that. We can adjust and adapt and we will. Every player wants an opportunity. We feel good going into the match.”
PFC backline standout Amer Didic joined the club in 2022 and wasn’t a part of the 2021 playoff run but knows all about it.
“I wasn’t here as part of that group but they always talk about a couple of years ago coming into Calgary and the feeling of that — and hopefully I can be a part of another big result like that,” said Didic.
The two regular-season losses in Calgary are irrelevant at this point, Didic said: “The playoffs are pretty much a new season but that’s the best part about it. It’s a new game, new season, and the Cup on the line.”
The six-foot-four Didic, a former Sporting Kansas City MLS prospect twice capped for sa国际传媒, has provided a towering presence on the PFC back line the past two seasons. Didic and fellow defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, who played for sa国际传媒 in the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 championship and was selected for the sa国际传媒 U-23 team for CONCACAF Tokyo Olympics qualifying, are a big reason why PFC has maintained clean sheets throughout the playoffs so far in 1-0 victories over fifth-seed York United in the opening round at Starlight Stadium and over third-seed HFX in the quarter-final at Halifax.
“We know we conceded too many goals near the end of the regular season and wanted to change that,” said Merriman.
“Full credit to the players for stepping up. We’ve been excellent without the ball in the first two [playoff] games.”
Top-seed Cavalry lost 2-1 last week at home to second-seed Forge FC in the 1-2 game of the Page playoff system. The winner of today’s semifinal between Cavalry and fourth-seed PFC will advance to the CPL championship game next Saturday in Hamilton against Forge.
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 will get the second CPL berth into the Champions League. PFC has only one route — it must win the CPL playoff championship to advance to the CONCACAF Champions League next year.
Meanwhile, crafty PFC midfielder Manny Aparicio has been named a finalist for CPL player of the year along with 18-time sa国际传媒-capped Forge FC captain Kyle Bekker, Lorenzo Callegari of HFX, Cavalry FC’s Dutch import Daan Klomp and four-time Somalia-capped Ali Musse.
“He [Aparicio] is the engine for us in the middle of the park and deserves to be recognized this year again,” said Merriman.
Added Didic: “You can always see on the field who’s running the most on both teams. As a centre back to have that in front of you … he is an amazing teammate to have.”
CORNER KICKS: PFC supporters are expected to pack the watch party today at JR Slims on Wharf Street.
