In the first of two games that they’ll both play at Starlight Stadium over the next few days, York United spoiled Pacific FC’s perfect home record on Friday, nabbing a hard-fought 0-0 draw. Despite Pacific being yet to lose or draw at home this season, York found a way to change that in this game, defending the league-leaders tough right from minute one.

Speaking of minute one, however, York nearly almost got off to the dream start right in the first minute, as Isiah Johnston found himself in a decent shooting position, and he made the most of it by getting off a solid strike, but in the end, it would be an easy save for Pacific’s Callum Irving. 

At the other end, Pacific nearly then found a dream start of their own just a few minutes later, as Kamron Habibullah decided to go for an audacious shot from distance, one that seemed destined for the top corner, if not for a strong sprawling save from Niko Giantsopoulos to just keep it out. 

After that, however, things would quiet down for a while, as both teams settled into the game. 

As a result, the next chance for either team didn’t come until the 37th minute, when York’s Lowell Wright had a look from distance, getting everything behind a powerful shot, one that he sent just over the crossbar. A few minutes later, York then had another look from distance, this time through Mateo Hernandez, who tried to send his team into half time with a lead, but his shot also sailed over the goal. 

On the other side of half time, things stayed relatively quiet, with both sides continuing to employ a cautionary posture. Despite that, however, Pacific came close to breaking through that in the 63rd minute, as they won a free kick in a dangerous position at the edge of the box, but Habibullah’s strike would just curl wide of the net. 

Shortly after, Pacific continued to grow into the game, as half time substitute, Gianni Dos Santos, did well to craft some space for himself to unleash a dangerous shot, although a lack of direction would make it easy to save for Giantsopoulos. 

Continuing their late push for goals, the league’s leading scorer, Alejandro Diaz, had their best chance of the game up to that point in the 78th minute, finding space for a dangerous volley inside the box, one that seemed destined for the back of the net. 

Except, no one told Roger Thompson, who launched himself at the shot, and managed to get his body in front of the shot, deflecting it just over the goal for a marvellous block. 

From there, though, that’d be all that this game had to offer up in terms of dangerous chances, leaving both teams to split the spoils, setting the table nicely for their rematch, which comes in the Canadian Championship on Tuesday.

BOX SCORE

Goals

N/A

Discipline

7′ — Yellow: Josh Heard (Pacific FC)

45′ — Yellow: Diyaeddine Abzi  (York United)

59′ — Yellow: Gianni Dos Santos (Pacific FC)

90+1′ — Yellow: Nathan Mavila (Pacific FC)