HIGHLIGHTS: York United FC vs Pacific FC (July 15th, 2022)

Pacific FC continued their hot scoring form on Friday night, as they came back from a goal down twice to defeat York United 4-2 at York Lions Stadium, in large part thanks to a hat-trick from Alejandro Díaz.

Looking for a reversal of fortunes from previous contests, York United boss Martin Nash altered his squad somewhat, making three changes to the side that fell 2-0 to Forge FC last Friday and adding Roger Thompson, Cédric Toussaint, and Osaze De Rosario into the mix. A couple of the changes were, of course, forced, with Jordan Wilson and Mateo Hernández both suspended due to yellow card accumulation.

Pacific’s James Merriman, meanwhile, rolled out a side with four changes, as Amer Didic and Kunle Dada-Luke returned to the backline, captain Jamar Dixon came into midfield, and Marco Bustos slotted in at right wing once again.

The hosts got the affair off to a blazing start; just 50 seconds in, Thompson sent a gorgeous left-footed ball from his own half into the Pacific box, and Isaiah Johnston brought it down well, settling it for Ronan Kratt to step up and place a good shot toward the left post that beat Callum Irving for Kratt’s first professional goal.

Pacific responded with plenty of energy, nearly equalizing just two minutes later with an Alejandro Díaz header that just skipped over the bar. York nearly added a second around the 20-minute mark as Chrisnovic N’sa beat his opposing fullback and came in on goal alone and squared it for Max Ferrari, but Irving made a tremendous diving save on Ferrari’s attempt to steer it away.

Five minutes before halftime, the visitors found a break: Gianni Dos Santos danced into the area with the ball but found himself chopped down by the six-yard box. Referee Fabrizio Stasolla immediately pointed to the penalty spot, and after some discussion between teammates it was Díaz who stepped up to beat Niko Giantsopoulos and tie the game.

Coming out of the break, York once again got immediately to work. Johnston picked up the ball in midfield and took it forward all by himself, beating multiple Pacific defenders before laying it off for Osaze De Rosario at the top of the box, and the striker finished coolly to put his side back in front.

The hosts had a litany of chances to extend their lead over the next few minutes, as De Rosario put a long-distance strike off the crossbar and Kratt hit the post with a tight-angle shot just moments later. Instead, it was Pacific who came quickly down the other direction, winning several consecutive corners. Finally, after York seemed to have cleared a set-piece, Sean Young sent a ball over traffic to the end line which Amer Didic brought down expertly, squaring it for Díaz to put away for his second of the night.

Less than ten minutes later, Pacific finally took a lead of their own. Kunle Dada-Luke found space down the right flank and blazed toward the box, sending a well-weighted pass across that Gianni Dos Santos smartly let pass him, setting it up for Díaz to smash it home for the hat-trick — his second at Pacific, and just the fourth in CPL history.

York, now chasing the game, turned to their bench as recent newcomers Kevin Dos Santos and Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio made their debuts, and veteran winger Michael Petrasso came in as well.

However, it would be Pacific again who found the net to put the game to bed. This time, it was Gianni Dos Santos who pounced on a pass from Marco Bustos near the end line, and he finished well from a difficult angle to beat Giantsopoulos and make it 4-2.

Pacific therefore held on to win this high-octane clash, winning their second consecutive match and climbing — at least for now — ahead of Atlético Ottawa into second place in the CPL standings. York, meanwhile, continue searching for a return to winning ways, as their winless streak now extends to 10 games.

BOX SCORE

Goals

1′ — Ronan Kratt (York United)
42′ — Alejandro Díaz (Pacific FC) (Penalty)
49′ — Osaze De Rosario (York United)
64′ — Alejandro Díaz (Pacific FC)
70′ — Alejandro Díaz (Pacific FC)
87′ — Gianni Dos Santos (Pacific FC)

Discipline

31′ — Yellow: Niko Giantsopoulos (York United)
32′ — Yellow: Djenairo Daniels (Pacific FC)
56′ — Yellow: Cédric Toussaint (York United)
65′ — Yellow: Sean Young (Pacific FC)
72′ — Yellow: Josh Heard (Pacific FC)
74′ — Yellow: Max Ferrari (York United)
85′ — Yellow: Jamar Dixon (Pacific FC)
90+3′ — Yellow: Gianni Dos Santos (Pacific FC)