Welcome to the win column, Pacific FC.
The Tridents became just the fourth team to win a match at The Island Games on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over Valour FC. With the win, Pacific leapfrogged Valour for third place in the CPL’s overall standings.
Pacific FC: Bustos backs it up – Bustos justified his off-season move away from Valour to Pacific after taking his former club to task over 88 minutes. He set up Diaz’s early opener and recorded a match-high three shots, leading his team to a crucial victory.
Pacific opened the scoring in the fourth minute through some good fortune. An attempted diving clearance by Valour defender Julian Dunn landed squarely at the feet of Alejandro Diaz, and the Mexican made no mistake in smashing home his first goal for the Tridents, who went on to hold the run of play for much of the first half.
Valour stepped up the intensity in the second half, pressing Pacific more effectively and leaving numbers forward in search of their first quality chance of the match. Shaan Hundal had the best opportunity, though he sent a one-on-one attempt straight into Callum Irving.
Victor Blasco bagged Pacific FC’s second goal in the 81st minute when the Spaniard smartly beat the offside trap and then beat Valour ‘keeper James Pantemis from close range.
Valour nearly got one back in the 84th minute after Lukas MacNaughton was caught by referee David Barrie dragging a player to the ground in the box. Captain Dylan Carreiro was denied by goalkeeper Callum Irving on his penalty attempt and then fired his rebound over the crossbar from just a few yards away.
Pacific saw the match out from there and avoided a last-minute goal.
Both sides now turn their attention to crucial weekend fixtures. Valour will take on FC Edmonton on Saturday (12pm ET/1pm AT, on OneSoccer and CBC) while Pacific faces Cavalry FC on Sunday (12pm ET/1pm AT, on OneSoccer).
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BOX SCORE
Goals
4’– Alejandro Diaz (Pacific FC)
83’– Victor Blasco (Pacific FC)
Discipline
33’ Yellow – Jamar Dixon (Pacific FC)
66’ Yellow – Austin Ricci (Valour FC)
TOP PERFORMER
Callum Irving (Pacific FC): Callum Irving is the first goalkeeper at The Island Games to save a penalty. The former Ottawa Fury shot-stopper’s save on Dylan Carriero’s late spot-kick was one of seven saves he made on the night. Irving showed great command of the box in his first start for Pacific, steering the side to its first clean sheet of the 2020 season.
