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HIGHLIGHTS: Lowell Wright fires York United to 2-1 win over Pacific FC & back into top four

Lowell Wright provided a goal and an assist off the bench on Saturday night, as York United beat Pacific FC 2-1 at Starlight Stadium to climb back into the playoff places.

The two sides traded chances in the first half, but blocked shots and missed opportunities were the story of the opening 45 minutes. Pacific’s backline blocked five shots before the break, and York United blocked two.

In the 10th minute, Josh Heard and Sean Young had efforts blocked with a few seconds of each other, and Marco Bustos also fired a volley just over the net a few minutes later as Pacific pushed for an opener.

York were unable to get a shot on target in the opening half, with the only shot that wasn’t blocked — an effort from Julian Ulbricht — missing the goal completely.

The best chance of the opening half came from the penalty spot, after Matteo Campagna dragged down Josh Heard from behind as the Pacific attacker was in on goal. Lukas MacNaughton stepped up to take it, but his shot toward the goalkeeper’s left was stopped by Nathan Ingham, and the match remained scoreless.

Terran Campbell gave Pacific the lead with a goal moments after the break with a header from close range. Receiving a pass close to the sideline, Marco Bustos turned quickly and curled a cross into the penalty area. Campbell rose above everyone, redirecting the ball past a diving Ingham to make it 1-0.

Seven minutes later, Julian Ulbricht equalized for The Nine Stripes, finishing off an impressive play from Lowell Wright. Wright, who came off the bench just moments earlier, outmuscled his defender, cut across the side of the penalty area and played a dangerous ball into the six-yard box, which Ulbricht poked home.

Wright wasn’t done there, giving his team the lead in the 81st minute. With his back to goal at the edge of the box, Wright turned and fired a hard shot into the top right corner, that Pacific goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer had no chance of keeping out.

Gianni Dos Santos, who checked into the match just eleven minutes earlier, picked up his second red card of the season off at the end of the match, seemingly for kicking out at Max Ferrari. Dos Santos, along with Lukas MacNaughton — who picked up his eighth yellow card of the season earlier in the match — will now both serve suspensions in the coming matches.

With the road win, York United jump over Valour FC and HFX Wanderers into the fourth and final playoff spot — the third team of the day to hold that position after Valour briefly took that spot earlier on. Pacific remain in first place, but with Cavalry and Forge having games in hand, risk falling out of top spot.


BOX SCORE

Goals

49′ — Terran Campbell (Pacific FC)

56′ — Julian Ulbricht (York United)

Discipline

20′ — Yellow: Max Ferrari (York United)

35′ — Yellow: Matteo Campagna (York United)

43′ — Yellow: Kunle Dada-Luke (Pacific FC)

51′ — Yellow: Josh Heard (Pacific FC)

63′ — Yellow: Isaiah Johnston (York United)

69′ — Yellow: Manny Aparicio (Pacific FC)

71′ — Yellow: Lukas MacNaughton (Pacific FC)

83′ — Red: Gianni Dos Santos (Pacific FC)