Pacific FC played out a tense 1-1 draw against Canadian Premier League rivals Forge FC at Starlight Stadium on Sunday (Sept. 18) evening.

The game got off to an unpopular start as Forge caught the home team napping, with former PFC man Alessandro Hojarbpour scoring a header after three minutes and being treated to a chorus of boos.

Goalkeeper Callum Irving said after the game that lackadaisical defending that led to the goal was B次元官网网址渦nacceptable.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲ith set pieces, what happens is you try and remedy problems and more problems come up. I think at the end of the day, itB次元官网网址檚 not about tactics about solving back post, front post, middle blocking, whatever, itB次元官网网址檚 about a mentality of B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 not going to let them scoreB次元官网网址� and I think you know, at times, we donB次元官网网址檛 do that well enough.B次元官网网址�

The Tridents awoke quickly after the goal, putting in a number of meaty challenges as they sought a way back into the game. And it came quickly with neat interplay between Marco Bustos and Kunle Dada-Luke giving the right-back space to fire across a cross. The goalkeeper fumbled and in the ensuing scramble the ball bobbled into the net with new man Jordan Brown celebrating what would have been his first goal of the season, but the goal was given as an own goal, making the score 1-1.

The goal was a rare bright spot for PFC, who did struggle to create clear-cut chances in the remainder. Head coach James Merriman said after the game that he was frustrated by some of the loose passing in the build-up.

B次元官网网址淭he morale is not down. The spiritB次元官网网址檚 not down. ItB次元官网网址檚 frustration. WeB次元官网网址檙e right there last match, this match. ItB次元官网网址檚 right there. We need to take it, we need to take advantage of the opportunities that we get.B次元官网网址�

IrvingB次元官网网址檚 heroics stepped up to another level 15 minutes later as he pulled out a miraculous save from close range against his former teammate Terran Campbell, who had the goal at his mercy but couldnB次元官网网址檛 convert from close range. Irving kept the game at 1-1 and thatB次元官网网址檚 how it stayed until half-time.

The second half was a quieter affair. Things got a little chippy B次元官网网址� there were five yellow cards in total plus one to a PFC staff member on the bench B次元官网网址� perhaps to be expected considering the teamsB次元官网网址� rivalry in the past few seasons. ForgeB次元官网网址檚 Kwasi Poku had the best chance of the half when he broke in behind and charged towards IrvingB次元官网网址檚 goal, but his shot bounced off the crossbar, with PFC scrambling to clear, keeping the score 1-1 on 69 minutes.

Ultimately the game would end 1-1.

With the draw, PFC is tied on 37 points with Valour FC, who reamin in fourth place due to their better goal difference. PFC has a game in hand, but with just four league games left to secure their playoff spot, itB次元官网网址檒l be a tense atmosphere in the TridentsB次元官网网址� dressing room.

PFCB次元官网网址檚 next game is against Halifax Wanderers on the east coast on Saturday (Sept. 24).

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bailey.moreton@goldstreamgazette.com
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