Match #2
PACIFIC FC (1-0-0) vs VALOUR FC (0-0-1)
When: Friday, April 19th, 9 p.m. CT
Where: Starlight Stadium, Victoria, B.C.
How to watch: OneSoccer is broadcasting all Canadian Premier League games live (link: https://onesoccer.ca/)
Supporters group viewing party: Elephant & Castle, 350 St. Mary Ave.
—
MATCH PREVIEW:
Valour had some moments of brilliance in its season-opening 4-1 loss to Vancouver FC, opening the scoring before surrendering a goal just before half and then two more in the first eight minutes of the second. A fourth goal was scored against with the team down to 10 men after a second yellow card was issued to Jordan Faria, who will now miss this match against Pacific.
Valour had just 38.9% possession in the loss to Vancouver and three shots on target, but their positive flashes might have offered a glimpse at this new-look side’s potential. Critical now is to regroup and find more of the good moments against a Pacific side that is always tough at their home pitch, Starlight Stadium.
This will be the second of Valour’s seven straight road matches to open the season – partly due to the annual concerns about spring weather in Winnipeg and due to the new turf installation at Princess Auto Stadium. Pacific has five of their first six, meanwhile, at home.
—
THE OTHER GUYS:
3 Facts about Pacific FC:
-The Tridents opened their ’24 season with a 1-nil home win over HFX Wanderers, the lone goal coming on a penalty by Ayman Sellouf in the 35th minute. Sellouf led Pacific in goals a year ago with seven. Emil Gazdov earned the clean sheet, stopping two shots on goal.
-Pacific finished 11-7-10 last season, with their 40 points slotting them into fourth place overall. The club blanked York United FC in the play-in round, then Wanderers 1-nil in the quarterfinal before falling 2-1 to Cavalry FC.
-Three key pieces to Pacific’s squad moved on after last season in dominant centre back Amer Didic (Ottawa), midfielder Manny Aparcio (Ottawa) and forward Easton Ongaro (Novara, Serie C in Italy).
—
VALOUR FC SPOTLIGHT:
#9: Jordi Swibel, F: Solid CPL debut from the 25-year-old Aussie forward, as he scored his first goal in his first match. A solid target up front, Swibel has a howitzer shot and can be a handful for defenders because of his grit and tenacity.
—
CRITICAL NUMBER
1-1-8
Valour won its inaugural game at Starlight Stadium in a 2-1 victory back on May 1, 2019. The squad has had difficulty securing points in subsequent visits, with just one draw against eight losses for an overall record of 1-1-8 in Victoria.
—
All-Time: Valour FC vs. Pacific FC
Overall: (win-draw-loss): 1-1-8
Last meeting: September 2nd, 2023, at Starlight Stadium, Victoria, B.C.: Pacific FC 2 Valour FC 1