Pacific FC kept a clean sheet for a club-record fourth straight CPL match, as their 2-0 victory over York United on Saturday put them top of the table.

Reon Moore opened the scoring in the 15th minute, before an own goal from Max Ferrari in the 76th minute added insurance for the Tridents.

The hosts earned a number of set pieces in the early going, as they took the game to the Nine Stripes.

On their second of two corners in the 15th minute, the hosts opened the scoring. Aly Ndom’s headed effort off the turf was stopped by Thomas Vincensini in the York net, but Pacific’s Moore was on hand to finish the chance from close range and give his side a 1-0 lead.

It was Moore’s first CPL goal, after he had opened his account for the club midweek against TSS Rovers with a late equalizer in the Canadian Championship. Pacific kept up the pressure thereafter, looking to press their advantage against a heavy-rotated York United side.

They nearly added a second during a chaotic sequence in the 35th minute. Moore again beat his man down the line, and despite falling down from contact in the box, got up and played it across the net. Steffen Yeates ultimately had two shots from inside the box, but both were blocked well by York’s Brem Soumaoro.

Josh Heard, who was celebrated pre-match after making his 100th appearance for Pacific on Wednesday night against TSS Rovers, had one last chance in first-half stoppage time. However, he could not make contact with a high ball played into the box, and despite a dominant first 45 minutes, Pacific settled for just a one-goal lead at the half.

York made a pair of substitutions at the half, bringing on Noah Abatneh and Matthew Baldisimo looking to find a foothold in the match. They responded well to start the second half, holding onto the ball better and spending the early moments in the Pacific FC third of the pitch.

The Tridents had the best chance of the opening 15 minutes of the half, however. A lovely counterattack saw Moore find Dario Zanatta out wide, but his low-driven strike across the face of the goal flashed wide of the right post.

Moments later, Brian Wright got in behind, held off Ndom well, and nearly equalized but his strike hit the outside of the net with Emil Gazdov at full stretch.

Each side made a pair of substitutions in the 75th minute, with CPL – U SPORTS draft pick Jason Hartill, making his debut for York United, brought on alongside Elijah Adekugbe, while Pacific added Adonijah Reid and Juan Quintana.

It was the Trident’s substitute that had the instant impact, however. Moments after coming on he got onto the end of a lovely through ball from fellow substitute Andrei Tîrcoveanu. He hit the ball across goal, which York’s Ferrari redirected into the back of the net to give Pacific FC a crucial second goal.

York United are now winless in their last six matches against Pacific FC in all competitions — including a 1-0 loss in the 2023 playoffs.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Pacific FC: Gazdov; Dada-Luke (Quintana 76′), Meilleur-Giguère, Ndom, Lajeunesse; Yeates, Young, Toussaint; Zanatta (Bahous 81′), Heard (Reid 76′), Moore (Tîrcoveanu 65′) 

York United FC: Vincensini; Ferrari, Sturing, Higgins (Abatneh 46′), Martin-Pereux (Hartill 77′); Bayiha (Baldisimo 46′), Soumaoro, Martínez (Adekugbe 77′), Babouli; Salanović (Ricci 68′), Wright

Goals

15′ — Reon Moore (Pacific FC)
76′ — Max Ferrari (York United) (Own Goal)

Discipline

28′ — Yellow: Kunle Dada-Luke (Pacific FC)
41′ — Yellow: Cédric Toussaint (Pacific FC)
41′ — Yellow: Brem Soumaoro (York United)
41′ — Yellow: Dennis Salanović (York United)
90+2′ — Yellow: Elijah Adekugbe (York United)