For the second consecutive game it was better late than never for Pacific FC.
Attacking-midfielder and hometown-product Sean Young went to the ball, adroitly stepping in front of defenders, to head home a well-struck corner kick by Bradley Vliet at 88 minutes to give the Tridents a 1-0 victory over York United in a Canadian Premier League soccer game Sunday at Starlight Stadium.
“We stayed together and strong and believed we would find something at the end,” said Pacific FC head coach James Merriman.
“It shows the character of this group.”
It follows a goal by Djenairo Daniels at 85 minutes that gave PFC a 1-0 victory over Forge FC last week at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. The results kept the Tridents (6-1-3 in wins-losses-draws) unbeaten in seven games and pushed PFC five points ahead of York United and Forge FC atop the table with a game in hand on both the second-place Nine Stripes and Hammers.
“We came in [Sunday] asking can we make this a six-point week,” said Merriman.
Mission accomplished, even if it was less than perfection.
“We didn’t take care of the ball as we usually do but stayed in the game,” said Merriman.
“We’ve leaned on set pieces but have been able to do that.”
It was the second consecutive clean sheet for Kieran Baskett as PFC’s goalkeeping woes from earlier in the season seem to have sorted themselves out.
“Two clean sheets are a nice little boost,” said Baskett, who survived a close call when Syria-capped York forward Mo Babouli hit the inside of the post in first-half injury time.
“I live in the moment to get better every day and don’t worry about what happened in the past or what is going to happen in the future.”
The result denied Victoria-raised York United head coach Martin Nash the homecoming he would have wanted.
“It’s unfortunate we gave one up late on. It hurts but it happens. We have to see these games through,” said the former St. Michaels University School soccer and basketball standout.
“We had a good run and unbeaten streak [five games] snapped. We’ll start another.”
Nash was capped 38 times for sa国际传媒 and remains part of the last national men’s soccer team to win a trophy, the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, after sa国际传媒 lost Sunday to the U.S. in the CONCACAF Nations League final at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. But sa国际传媒 did top the table in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to end a 36-year drought.
“I didn’t think it would come this quickly,” admitted Nash, who grew up in Gordon Head inspired by watching Island players Ian Bridge, George Pakos and Jamie Lowery play in the 1986 World Cup.
“And with the young age of this Canadian team, hopefully it will be a long ride. The CPL and MLS have helped to raise the Canadian talent level.”
The Nash family connections to the Island were not far from mind for Merriman on Sunday as he faced Martin Nash in the battle of head coaches. The Nanaimo-raised Merriman recalled playing for Island teams under Martin’s dad, John Nash.
“Steve [Nash, two time-NBA MVP] would show up at training. I was lucky to grow up in that culture on the Island,” said Merriman.
“There were a lot of great players here.”
Belmont Secondary-graduate and Island Wave-product Young proved on Sunday there still are.
The Tridents have a short turnaround this week to hosting Valour FC (2-2-6) of Winnipeg on Wednesday evening at Starlight Stadium.
