Pacific FC made history on Sunday with a 1-0 win over HFX Wanderers FC at Westhills Stadium, becoming the first team to register a victory in the Canadian Premier League.

A 23rd-minute goal by Pacific defender Hendrik Starostzik proved the difference between the two Canadian coastal outfits, with the German centre-back earning the distinction of scoring both the first header and the first goal from a corner kick in league history.

Pacific FC had opportunities to double its lead, with Ben Fisk in particular proving a handful for the HFX backline.

Matthew Baldisimo’s exquisite cross in the 51st minute was picked up by Fisk, who tested HFX goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams with a powerful shot, which the Trinidad and Tobago international deflected cooly.

Juan Diego Gutierrez and Akeem Garcia of HFX Wanderers FC also threatened on the other end of the field with their speed and combination plays, though striker Tomasz Skublak did not see out the full match, coming off before the hour mark.

Pacific star Issey Nakajima-Farran made his CPL debut in the 56th minute, replacing Victor Blasco up top – the Japanese-Canadian immediately involved himself in the play, doing well to offer a different look to Blasco up top, though with no end product to celebrate by the 90-minute mark.

Instead, Pacific head coach Michael Silberbauer was forced to survive the final stanza of the match, after defender Lukas MacNaughton picked up a second yellow card – and, thus, a red-card ejection – in the 73rd minute.

Apart from a near chance by Starostzik in the 76th minute, as well as an acrobatic effort by Gutierrez three minutes afterward, Stephen Hart’s side couldn’t muster the opportunity needed to take advantage of their extra man.

And so, in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,000 at Westhills Stadium, Pacific FC celebrated a historic first win in club and league history, a 1-0 score – and 4,500 km of distance –separating these two new rivals.

Watch the highlights of this match, as well as the full match replay, on OneSoccer.