2023 CPL Regular Season — Match #107**
** **Pacific FC vs. Vancouver FC
** **September 30, 2023 at 2 p.m. PT
** **Starlight Stadium in Langford, British Columbia
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The fourth and final Salish Sea Derby of 2023 goes this weekend in Langford, British Columbia, where Pacific FC will host rivals Vancouver FC at Starlight Stadium on Saturday. There, both teams will look to add another chapter to a growing rivalry, one that has already seen its fair share of drama in just year one of its existence. From Pacific’s dramatic late winner at home in the first-ever game between these two teams, after which they shushed the away Vancouver support, to the Eagles’ dramatic comeback win in their last meeting at Langley’s Willoughby Community Park, leading to some dramatic celebrations, these games have not disappointed in the entertainment category. That should be no exception this time around, either, as both teams will have a lot to play for, too. To begin, there’s the hosts, Pacific, who are reeling after a frustrating 3-1 loss this past weekend to Forge. Given that game officially eliminated them from the regular season title race, despite spending much of the first half leading the table, it was a tough pill for Pacific to swallow on the day. Because of that, they’re eager to quickly bounce back, putting that pain behind them as they look to end the campaign on a high note. Plus, even though they’ve already booked a playoff spot, it’s worth noting that the Tridents still have one thing they’re pushing for – second place in the table. Given that the second-place team will get a shot at hosting the final if they beat the CPL Shield winner (in this case, Cavalry) in the 1v2 playoff game, as well as a second shot at the final if they lose, it’s a big advantage over third or fourth place, who would have to win an extra game or two just to get one shot at the final, which would then be on the road. Unfortunately, Pacific no longer controls their destiny in the hunt for second place after their loss to Forge, but they can stay alive with a win, and if Halifax helps them out by beating or drawing Forge, Pacific could find themselves back in second by the end of this weekend. With Cavalry awaiting them next weekend in Calgary, in what will be a tough game given that Pacific has never won there in regular season play, they’d love to head into that game with a buffer on Forge, but they can’t do that unless they beat Vancouver. “We’re focused on finishing as high as we can and getting maximum points,” Pacific’s head coach, James Merriman, said ahead of this game. “And then we’ll shift our focus to playoffs, seeing what do we want to do, how do we want to finish this season, because we still have confidence in ourselves, we know how dynamic we can be, so we’re not scared of anybody coming into the playoffs.”
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Yet, while some might think that beating Vancouver could be seen as an eventuality given that Pacific leads them by 14 points in the table, don’t be fooled by that, as the Eagles might just be the league’s hottest team not named Cavalry right now. Given that they’ve won three of their last four games and four of their last seven, they’ve been on quite the roll as of late. That wasn’t enough to keep them in the playoff race, unfortunately, but they were able to move off the bottom, and have done well to disrupt the playoff hopes of a few teams in front of them. For an expansion team, they’ve done well to build and grow as the season has gone along, setting the building blocks for next season. Because of that, they’re eager to claim a win against Pacific, knowing that it’ll only add to their confidence. Given that the first win of this run of four wins in seven was actually over Pacific, as Vancouver claimed their first-ever victory over the Tridents in August, it’d be a full circle moment of sorts to now add another victory. Especially given that it’d tie the season series at two wins apiece, with each team claiming a win home and away, it’d be a feather in Vancouver’s cap, as well. Plus, it’ll only add more fuel to the fire in this rivalry, one that has not disappointed in year one, and will look to continue that trend in this game. “Anytime you play a team several times and you lose to them every time, it’s a psychological blow and the hurdle only gets bigger and bigger and bigger,” Vancouver FC head coach, Afshin Ghotbi, noted. “So to be able to turn it around (in the last derby), and especially as we started ahead in the game, and then we’re down 2-1, and then to come back and score two quick goals and win the game was massive at home.” “But when I see this team, when I see them train, it’s fantastic to see how they’ve grown. They’re training at the highest level like any team in North America, and when I see their mentality, their understanding, the tempo, it’s really beautiful to be here at this period, and I’m just sad that it’s going to end soon, as I wish we could play another 28 games right after this.”
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3 THINGS TO WATCH
- Is more late drama on the cards? When it’s said that these games have been filled with drama and entertainment, that’s not hyperbole, either – the first derby was decided by an 81st-minute winner from Pacific’s Manny Aparicio, while the third derby was won by an 87th-minute goal from Vancouver’s Gabriel Bitar. Then, while the second derby didn’t have that same late drama, it was still one to remember, as both teams combined for nine goals in a 6-3 Pacific win, one that saw Pacific shock Vancouver with four second-half goals to claim the victory. Because of that, expect goals, especially in the second half, where 10 of the 15 goals scored between these two teams have come. Knowing how important it is to beat their rivals, these teams will push right to the very end to grab a win, as the last thing they want to do is share the points. Therefore, if the game is tied or close heading into the 60th minute, be ready to strap in, as a late flurry of chances could be on the cards as both teams look to earn a win for their fans. * Pacific hoping for a strong start at home: There’s no doubt that Pacific’s Starlight Stadium is usually one of the hardest places to play at in the CPL. Teams have come to learn that over the years, too, including those across the CPL, some teams in Concacaf League, and even the Vancouver Whitecaps back in 2021. Because of that, it’s been a big surprise to see that Pacific has actually struggled a fair bit at home this season, as they’ve only won five of 13 home games this season, picking up just 19 points (an average of 1.46 points per game). After claiming seven wins and 26 points in 14 home games (1.85/game) in 2022, it’s been a big letdown, as it’s cost them at key moments, especially in the title race. To be fair, they’ve also made that up by being very good on the road, where they’ve got an impressive 21 points from 13 road games, but it’s been frustrating as Pacific has always been a team that does well in front of their home fans. For what it’s worth, they’re not the only team struggling with that – they still sit tied for the third-best home points-per-game rate in the league despite their struggles, but they’ll know that they can do better than they have so far. In particular, they’ll want to start better at home – across their last eight home games, they’ve only scored first in three of those games. For context, they’ve got three wins in those games, compared to two ties and three losses in the other games. Yet, a big reason for that is the size of the pitch – given that Pacific’s pitch is so narrow, teams have done well at sitting back and frustrating the Tridents, especially when they grab the lead. Because of that, look for Pacific to score first in this game, not letting Vancouver do that. If not, another frustrating home result could loom, which would have a big impact on Pacific’s road through the playoffs, too. “In the second half of the season, teams have done a good job coming here and making it difficult for us in terms of how they set up,” Merriman noted. “So we need to take what we’ve learned, and we need to be aggressive in this game from the start.” * Return to Starlight Stadium a full circle moment for Vancouver: A lot has changed since Vancouver last visited Starlight Stadium. Coming all the way back on opening weekend in mid-April, Vancouver was actually playing their first official game as a club when they fell 1-0 to Pacific. Safe to say, they’ve come a long way since then, which should be reflected in their starting 11 alone – Vancouver will likely only start five or six of the same players that started on opening day, especially given that two of those starters are no longer with the club. You add that Vancouver’s really started to grow as a team as of late, reflected in their recent form, and that much is clear. Because of that, there would be no better way for Vancouver to mark their progress as a team than a road win against Pacific. After coming there as a timid, cautious unit back in April, they’re heading there as a confident bunch, one that knows that they have what it takes to do some damage. That latter point will be especially key – what let them down in the opener is that they were outshot 16-7 by Pacific, mustering up just two shots on target. With the recent form of Gabriel Bitar and Mikaël Cantave, however, who are up to five goals each on the season, and the threat of Alejandro Díaz and Shaan Hundal, this Vancouver team has pieces that can cause damage in the attack, and they’ll need to bring that as it was sorely missed the last time these two teams met on the Island.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Pacific FC (4-3-3): Gazdov; Mukumbilwa, Didić, Meilleur-Giguère, Amedume; Yeates, Young, Aparicio; Heard, Reid, Sellouf
Vancouver FC (4-3-2-1): Irving; Chung, Romeo, White, Cameron; Simmons, Garcia, Fry; Cantave, Bitar; Díaz
ALL-TIME SERIES
Pacific wins: 2 || Vancouver FC wins: 1 || Draws: 0
Last meeting:
August 19, 2023 – Vancouver FC 3-2 Pacific FC
KEY QUOTES
“Yeah, we want to finish with maximum points, and push as high as we can, because that’s who we are, and that’s the standard that we set. We want to go for as much as we can before the playoffs, so we can build confidence, feel good and grab some momentum, but at the same time, when I think about the way that we’ve performed over the season and the moments we’ve had this season, we feel strong, we feel good, and we feel excited heading into the playoffs, no matter where we finish, no matter what our matchup is. There’s a really good energy in the group now after coming back from the Forge game, so we’ll compete and enjoy the process over these next two matches, and really shift our mindset heading into the playoffs knowing that on our day, we can be the most dynamic team in this league,” — Pacific FC head coach, James Merriman. “Even though it was several months ago, it feels like several years ago, to be honest, it’s been a very long season in so many different ways. I actually saw the first game (on April 15th) again just to refresh myself. And to be honest, we played a tactically very good game, especially defensively, but we were a completely different team, and I think they’re also a different team. I think both teams are better than they were before, so I think it’s going to be an exciting game, because they need to win, and we want to win, so both teams will play to win. (Because of that), I’m hoping that fans from all over BC tune in and come to the game and create an exciting conclusion to this derby for 2023.” — Vancouver FC head coach, Afshin Ghotbi. “We haven’t really had a big test in a hostile environment like this in a while. Again, it’s a derby match, so there’s a lot to play for, and we’re on such a good run right now, we have that confidence, we have that belief. We know that they’re going to they’re also playing for something, so for us, it’s just about continuing this run and you know, putting a stop to other team’s dreams this season.” — Vancouver FC defender, Kadin Chung.