PFC loses in Calgary
There was a thudding sameness to Pacific FC’s game Sunday in Calgary. It was another OK effort that yielded nothing in a 1-0 Canadian Premier League loss to Cavalry FC.
“We could have gotten more out of the game. We are not capitalizing on opportunities when we get them,” said PFC defender Kadin Chung.
Coquitlam-native Chung was the first player signed in PFC history in 2019 out of FC Kaiserslautern II, the reserve team of the Bundesliga club, and has been through the best and the worst with PFC. His play, including in the Tridents’ 2021 CPL championship season, earned the former Canada U-17, U-20 and U-23 player a Major League Soccer contract with Toronto FC for the 2022-23 season.
“We have to move on from this and have more confidence in ourselves,” said Chung, as the spiralling Tridents fell to two wins, two draws and eight losses on the season.
“We feel down and frustrated but also feel we have played well enough that we can flip the switch with results,” said Chung.
“No one has their heads down.”
With PFC’s lack of offence, the game was effectively decided when six-time Somalia-capped winger Ali Musse scored a well-taken goal at 13 minutes for Cavalry FC [6-2-3 in wins-losses draws and undefeated in six games including four victories].
“It was a great goal,” said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
And came at just the right time — early — for the hosts.
“It was a better defensive performance for us, but this is not an easy place to play, and to concede so early puts you on the back foot,” lamented PFC head coach James Merriman.
PFC looked for the equalizer but the offence, the lowest scoring in the CPL with only eight goals in 12 games and just one in the last six games, again ran dry.
“It is because of poor decision making and lack of confidence in the final third of the field,” said Merriman, who spent last week with the Canadian national team as guest assistant coach in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
“We have been struggling and need to be better in the attacking half. Someone has to take the initiative and go to goal with confidence.”
The game was originally scheduled the day before in Calgary but was postponed to Sunday due to heavy rains that made the pitch unplayable Saturday.
Pacific FC returns home to Starlight Stadium on Friday night for the B.C. derby against last-place Vancouver FC.
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