Pacific FC defeated York United FC 2-1 through a 92nd-minute winner from Emanuel Montejano on Saturday night in Victoria.
A brilliant solo goal from Gabriel Bitar opened the scoring for York, but a penalty before the half from Dario Zanatta and a late winner from Montejano secured the win for Pacific.
Loading ...“We spoke about it before the game. We’ve had such good energy in the team, and we have such good character in the group – we could feel it all preseason, but then at the beginning of the season, some things didn’t go our way, we didn’t get the start that we wanted, and that can challenge things,” said Pacific FC head coach James Merriman post-game. “Today, we needed a team performance, and we absolutely got that.”
There were minimal lineup changes for both sides from last week’s matches. For York, Sturing got his second straight start while Adonijah Reid started up top. A quick turnaround from Canadian Championship play, Pedro Machado filled in at the back while Josh Heard slotted up top for Pacific.
Spectacular solo goal to open the scoring
York had the early attacking pressure, with chances on net in the opening stages. And the visitors were rewarded for their efforts in the 25th minute when Bitar scored a spectacular solo goal after collecting a half clearance header by Machado at the top of the box.
The midfielder then performed a clever Maradona-spin to evade two defenders, and slotted a low shot past Pacific goalkeeper Sean Melvin to make it 1-0..
Attacking response from Pacific FC
A minute later, Pacific almost found an equalizer, as a free-kick delivered into the box by Marco Bustos found its way onto the feet of Zanatta, whose quick shot was driven low toward Urtiaga.
Just before the half, Pacific had another great opportunity. Sturing gave away a dangerous ball up the middle to Aidan Daniels, who laid a pass across to Bustos. Bustos cut inside with his left foot and drilled a curling shot from outside the box that hit the top of the crossbar.
- Photo gallery: Pacific FC beat York United with last-gasp winner
Despite the woodwork denying Bustos a great goal, he was impactful in Pacific’s equalizer a minute later. Latching onto a through ball, Bustos won a penalty shot as he drove into the penalty box and was pushed onto the ground by Ferrazzo. Zanatta stepped up to the spot and coolly placed the penalty into the bottom left corner to make it level at 1-1.
At the end of the half, York had an opportunity and an appeal for a penalty of their own in front of the goal from Altobelli, as he was pulled down in front of Melvin, denying him a chance to finish.
Coming off an exciting finish to the half, it was a dullish affair in the opening second half. There were minimal chances from either side, but Pacific looked increasingly dangerous finding key passes through York’s defensive line. Bustos curled a teasing through ball into the penalty box that caused a collision between Urtiaga and Heard, as Pacific looked for the go-ahead goal.
Pacific’s substitutes connect well in front of goal
In the 88th minute, Pacific’s continued attacking presence led to great opportunities. The first chance came as Kadin Chung found substitute Montejano in the box, but his header went straight into the hands of Urtiaga. A minute later, Montejano’s cross found substitute Christian Greco-Taylor wide open at the back post, but his driven header was denied by a great reaction save from Urtiaga.
In the 92nd minute, Pacific’s continuous pressure paid off as they found the go-ahead goal off a fortunate attacking sequence. A cross by Bustos into the box found Montejano, whose diving header was parried away by Urtiaga. Off the rebound, Machado headed the ball back across the goal onto Montejano on the ground, who redirected it into the net to secure the winner for Pacific.
With the last chance of the match, York nearly found an equalizer. A free-kick from Shola Jimoh bounced and hit the post, and in the ensuing rebound scramble, Nyal Higgins was denied by Melvin in tight as Pacific hung on to snap their five-game winless streak.
Although there was some luck towards the end of the game, Pacific did well throughout the game, possessing more of the ball and continuing their attacking pressure, leading to more big chances on goal.
Having lost key players to injury and playing three matches in a week, Pacific’s mental and physical strength was tested, but they regrouped and managed to pull out a win at the end of a tough week.
“It’s been a really tough week, mentally and physically for a lot of us, and the injuries don’t help, said Pacific FC midfielder Lukas Lagerfeldt Browning. “But we’ve stuck together, we’ve worked hard, and today we got a reward for that.”
Once again, York started the game strong, but failed to capitalize on their momentum and bring their energy into the second half. In a frustrating position near the bottom of the table, they have now dropped 11 points from winning positions this season. They have found an attacking identity under head coach Mauro Eustáquio, but they now need to focus on their defensive struggles, mentally block out the opponent’s momentum, and find a way to bring their opening intensity into the end of matches.
“I almost want to say we get too comfortable,” said York United head coach Mauro Eustáquio post-game. “We go out with the game plan quite clear in our minds, and we stick to it, we stay with it, but then at times, we run away from it. That consistency of our concentration, that consistency of our play, that’s something we need, and quickly.”
Both teams’ next matches will be on the road next weekend. Pacific will travel to Calgary to face Cavalry FC on Saturday, May 17, while York will travel to Winnipeg to face Valour FC on Friday, May 16.
