Valour FC came to Starlight Stadium on Saturday on a mission and wasted no time in dismantling Pacific FC 4-1 to close out their campaign on a high note. With the win, their eighth of the season, the Winnipeg-based club secured sixth-place on the table — their highest finish since 2022. It was also Valour's first win at Starlight Stadium since June 20, 2024.
Pacific, who were looking to gift their fans a strong performance to close out the year, looked overwhelmed from the first whistle and struggled to contend with Valour's pace. Head coach Phil Dos Santos' side got their first real chance in the seventh minute as they were awarded a free kick just outside the box. Themi Antonoglou stepped up to the plate but his attempt on goal was blocked by the wall.
Valour had another dangerous opportunity a few minutes later as a blocked Pacific ball careened backwards towards midfielder Roshawn Juhmi. The 24-year old slid to try and pick up the ball before Valour striker Myles Morgan but was unable to corral it, allowing Morgan to streak towards goal on a break. Pacific 'keeper Sean Melvin stood tall, re-directing Morgan's attempt but the ball was collected by Valour captain Raphael Ohin, who crossed it back into the box before it eventually went out of bounds.
Pacific attempted to steady themselves and had a look in the 18th minute as Alejandro Díaz played a cheeky lofted ball along the left wing to Yann Toualy, who drove into the box before his cross was blocked. Morgan was again sprung shortly after Toualy's chance and made no mistake this time as he calmly beat Melvin with a tidy right-footed finish. Pacific head coach James Merriman changed out Matthew Baldissimo, who has filled in as a centre-back over the last several matches, for defender Georges Mukumbilwa immediately after the goal.
Valour nearly struck again, with Kianz Froese getting a chance from the top of Pacific's box in the 22nd minute. Melvin came out to try and rally his side, shouting encouragement, but Valour scored off the ensuing corner as Antonoglou whipped a dangerous ball into the box and found Diego Konincks, who headed it in to make it 2-0 for the visitors. The assist was Antonoglou's sixth of the season.
But Valour weren't done and pressed for another goal, this time a screamer courtesy of Markiyan Voytsekhovskyy in the 40th minute, who beat Melvin from distance as no defender took away his space. Valour finished the half with 11 shots and six on target; Pacific had one meagre attempt. which missed. The Tridents' xG was 0.04.
Merriman's side came out focused to start the second half but continued to struggle to create offensively despite having the lion's share of possession. With the tides turning slightly, Dos Santos turned to his bench for fresh legs, bringing on Jordan Faria and Diego Ressurreição. Less than two minutes later, Valour scored their fourth of the match as Morgan headed in a cross from the left side of the pitch.
Pacific refused to be held off the scoresheet, replying soon after as Toualy flew down the left flank to collect the ball. He found Marco Bustos unmarked in the box, the 2021 CPL champion beating 'keeper Emil Gazdov — who previously made nearly 50 appearances for the Tridents before being sold to CF Montréal— in the 69th minute. Merriman went to his bench shortly afterwards, looking to harness their momentum off Bustos' goal, and brought on attacker Dario Zanatta and captain Josh Heard.
However, it was Valour who'd get the best chance following the substituions as they progressed the ball up the field and found themselves with an overload on the wing with Antonoglou and Faria. The defender passed to the wide open Faria but he hit the far post, keeing the score at 4-1. Tempers flared as the clock wound down, with Heard picking up two quick yellow cards as Pacific's frustrations reared its head.
Ultimately, Pacific weren't able to muster enough to really threaten Valour's lead, ending their 2025 season in disappointment.
BOX SCORE
Lineups
Pacific FC: Melvin; Chung, Baldisimo (Mukumbilwa 18'), Ndom, Greco-Taylor; Young, Juhmi (Heard 71'), Daniels (Keshavarz 88'); Bustos (Schiavoni 88'), Díaz, Toualy (Zanatta 71')
Valour FC: Gazdov; Alarcón, Konincks, Romeo, Antonoglou; Ohin; Twardek (Mlah 89'), Venancio (Figueiredo 84'), Froese (Ressurreição 61'), Voytsekhovskyy (Faria 61'); Morgan (Layne)
Goals
17' — Myles Morgan (Valour FC)
20' — Diego Konincks (Valour FC)
37' — Markiyan Voytsekhovskyy (Valour FC)
65' — Myles Morgan (Valour FC)
69' — Marco Bustos (Pacific FC)
Discipline
45' — Yellow: Sean Young (Pacific FC)
77' — Yellow: Diego Ressurreição (Valour FC)
80' — Yellow: Marco Bustos (Pacific FC)
81' — Yellow: Josh Heard (Pacific FC)
83' — Second Yellow: Josh Heard (Pacific FC)
