York United picked up a commanding win Sunday afternoon, defeating Pacific FC 5-1 at York Lions Stadium.
Shaan Hundal, getting his first start for York in place of an injured Altobelli, took full advantage of his opportunity, scoring four goals on five shots. Leonel López also scored his second goal of the season to add to York’s total. At the end of the first half, Alejandro Díaz added a consolation goal for Pacific.
“The structure we have and the way we’re taught to play, it’s easy. You know what movements to make. The plan is clear, so it makes the football easy,” said Hundal post-game.
York’s aggressive pressure leads to early lead
York was aggressive right from the kickoff as they pushed deep into Pacific’s end and forced goalkeeper Sean Melvin to make an early save in tight.
In the 11th minute, York’s aggressive press paid off as a ball up the middle from Adonijah Reid bounced off Pacific defender Sean Young onto the feet of Massimo Ferrin. Ferrin slipped a beautifully weighted pass for Hundal, who slotted it into the bottom right corner to give York the early 1-0 lead.
In the 17th minute, York doubled their lead off another offensive press and quick passing sequence. Ferrin’s pressure forced a cheap giveaway from Browning-Lagerfeldt up the middle onto the feet of Orlando Botello. Squaring a quick pass to Reid, Reid found López in the middle of the box, where he evaded the swarming Pacific defense to poke the ball past Melvin into the bottom left corner to make it 2-0.
Pacific rallied back just before the break
After giving up two early goals, Pacific had to regroup and was forced to bring in an early substitute for Young, who was injured in the previous goal. In the 24th minute, they had their first opportunity of the match, as a half-volley at the top of the box from Josh Heard sailed just wide of the post.
Moments later, at the other end of the pitch, Melvin made two huge saves, one off a low shot from Reid and another off the ensuing rebound from Hundal around the penalty spot.
Right before the break, Pacific found their lone goal of the match off a mistake from the York backline. A long ball from Aly Ndom in his own half skipped off the foot of defender Oswaldo León and landed kindly into the path for Díaz, who made no mistake, powering the shot into the back of the net to bring Pacific onto the scoresheet.
The opening section of the second half was more subdued at both ends of the pitch, as both teams sought opportunities from outside the box.
Hundal’s second-half hat trick seals the game
In the 73rd minute, York regained their two-goal advantage. Running up the middle, Kembo Kibato fanned a pass out wide for Botello, who took a touch and crossed it into the box, where Hundal got a foot to it and redirected it into the back of the net to give York the 3-1 lead.
In the 81st minute, an outswinging corner from Botello trickled around in the box before finding the feet of Hundal, who smashed a shot into the top right corner to extend York’s lead to three.
In the 84th minute, Hundal sealed his glorious afternoon with his fourth goal of the match. After a lovely turn in the middle of the pitch to free up space, Gabriel Bitar slid a pass through the Pacific backline into Shola Jimoh, who unselfishly squared a pass to Hundal, where he walked it into the empty net to secure the 5-1 win for York. The Brampton native became the second player in CPL history to score four goals in a match after Sam Salter earlier this season.
This afternoon’s win puts York one point behind Cavalry for third in the table, while Pacific now finds itself 10 points out of a playoff spot with eight matches remaining. With Hundal finding immediate success with head coach Mauro Eustáquio’s structure and tactical plan, York has a fortuitous decision to make in the following weeks with their striker position between the hot Hundal and their Golden Boot contender, Altobelli.
Both teams will head on the road next weekend, as Pacific will travel to Winnipeg to play Valour FC on Sunday, August 31. York, meanwhile, will travel to Nova Scotia to play a Labour Day matinee against Halifax Wanderers on Monday, September 1.
