FOOTHILLS COUNTY, AB – Pacific FC advanced to their first-ever CPL Finals appearance in club history at ATCO Field. They got this result on the road against a very tough Cavalry FC (representing Calgary) side. The same side that Pacific had problems within the Canadian Premier League regular season. However, Pacific stepped up when needed most.
Pacific FC advanced to the 2021 CPL Final
Keys to the game
Full Game Summary:#ForTheIsle's positive first-half performance played a role in the game. #CavsFC had 13 shots, but only three shots on goal.
Cavalry FC did not take advantage of their 63 percent of the possession.#CAVvPAC | 1-2 | #CanPLPlayoffs
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) November 20, 2021
First Half
Terran Campbell hit the post within the first minute of play. Mo Farsi got behind the back-line but was called offside in the fifth minute of play. Cavalry played good defence in the seventh minute to prevent a goal. It was over the head of Alejandro Díaz in the seventh minute. If that pass had connected, Pacific might have taken an early lead. Pacific’s Jordan Haynes defended well in the 13-minute.
Diaz’s shot in the 23-minute missed the target. Joe Mason committed a foul making contact with Pacific’s goalkeeper. Ben Fisk’s shot was saved in the 31-minute, which was Calgary’s only shot on target. Farsi’s shot was stopped in the 32-minute. Karifa Yao made a terrific defensive play in the 32-minute for Cavalry.
33’ #ForTheIsle scores! The play started with Josh Heard’s cross. Manny Aparicio passes the ball with his head to Terran Campbell, who makes no mistake and scores!#CAVvPAC | 0-1 | #CanPLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/zw5iZXtUPc
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) November 20, 2021
Then, in the 33-minute, Terran Campbell scored for Pacific. This was his 11th goal in the Canadian Premier League and gave Langford the lead at half-time. The play started with Josh Heard and the assist was awarded to Manny Aparicio.
Second Half and Extra Time
47’ #CavsFC ties the game up! Following a set piece, Karifa Yao gets a header off and scores!#CAVvPAC | 1-1 | #CanPLPlayoffspic.twitter.com/3nazN5fiEU
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) November 20, 2021
Cavalry FC started the second half with a goal off a set-piece thanks to Yao. A good defensive play was made by a Pacific player in the 67-minute. Joe Mason had a terrific chance to score but was unable to get control of the ball. Campbell almost scored in the 92-minute.
105’ #ForTheIsle scores! Pacific FC's Kunle Dada-Luke plays a big part in the goal as #CavsFC’s Marco Carducci commits the own goal.
Was Dada-Luke out of play or not also does not matter as Pacific FC now leads.#CAVvPAC | 1-2 | #CanPLPlayoffspic.twitter.com/UQ3iGyfLde
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) November 20, 2021
Marco Carducci signalled the ball was out of play instead of trying to stop Kunle Dada-Luke’s shot. It is strange that it was given as an own goal, but Carducci should have tried to stop the shot first. Credit should also be given to Dada-Luke though for not giving up on the play.
Cavalry tried hard to get a game-tying goal and send the game to penalties. However, they were unable to deliver and as a result were eliminated from the Canadian Premier League playoffs. It is another what-if as they again put themselves in a position of trailing in the game as they did in the 2019 CPL Finals.
For Pacific, they await the winner between Forge FC and York United FC on November 21. The game will take place at Tim Hortons Field at 3:00 p.m. ET. If York United FC wins, Pacific FC will host the Canadian Premier League Final at Starlight Stadium on November 27. If Hamilton advances, Pacific will travel to Hamilton on December 5. All games can be viewed on OneSoccer and Telus.
Three Takeaways:
History consistently being made this season by the Island’s club 🤫
Only one more step on our year-long quest!
All there is left to say: WE’RE COMING FOR THAT TROHPY 🔱🔱🔱#ForTheIsle | #PacificFC | #CanPL | #PACvCAV pic.twitter.com/p1YfCFT5Lp
— Pacific FC (@Pacificfccpl) November 20, 2021
Pacific FC eliminated Cavalry FC from the Canadian Premier League playoffs and the Canadian Championship. Despite being the road team, Langford eliminated Calgary from both competitions. This is despite Cavalry FC winning the Canadian Premier League season series 3-1-1 against Pacific FC this year.
The first-ever Canadian Premier League Final in Pacific FC history. Langford did not do very well in the 2019 CPL season, as they finished with 11 points. This tied them in fifth place with HFX Wanderers FC and York9 FC (now York United FC). Pa-Modou Kah deserves a lot of credit for that.
Pacific FC showed character in a road win against Cavalry FC. Langford had some injuries/suspensions in this game against Calgary on the road. No Marco Bustos who missed his fifth-straight game due to a lower-body injury. Also, Pacific’s captain James Dixon was absent because of a red card suspension. Injuries will also be a concern for Pacific as they head into the CPL Final. This includes Abdou Samake, who got injured in the game.
Picture credit to Tony Lewis of CFC Media on November 20, 2021.
