PACIFIC FC 3 HFX WANDERERS 0
The West Coast proved to be the best coast on Saturday night at Starlight Stadium.
Pacific FC defeated the HFX Wanderers of Halifax 3-0 in the cross-country derby of the Canadian Premier League, which represents the third-longest distance in the world between domestic premiership soccer clubs.
PFC head coach James Merriman in the pre-game described the fixture as basically a playoff-type game as both clubs were in last place heading in.
The Tridents took the crucial three points as they look to avoid missing the playoffs for only the second time in the six seasons of league history.
Romanian import Andrei Tîrcoveanu at 33 minutes, hometown-product Dario Zanatta, from the spot on a penalty at 63 minutes, and New Zealand-capped Moses Dyer at 81 minutes scored the Pacific FC goals.
HFX’s cause wasn’t helped by going down to nine players due to two red cards assessed the Nova Scotians.
“It’s been a frustrating stretch for us and so this is an important result tonight at home for us and for our fans,” said Merriman.
“Every game is a playoff game for us now.”
Zanatta said: “We know we haven’t scored enough this season, but were professional in our approach tonight, and we looked confident and comfortable.”
It was a quiet HFX dressing room by comparison.
“It just wasn’t our night. It’s one game down, with still a lot to play for. We have to pick ourselves up,” said ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½-capped HFX midfelder Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé
A total of five players, on international duty, were missing Saturday night.
Reon Moore and Steffen Yeates of PFC and Ryan Telfer and Andre Rampersad of HFX are with Trinidad and Tobago for the Soca Warriors’ CONCACAF Nations League games this week. Midfielder Marco Domínguez of PFC was called up by Guatemala for its Nations League fixtures.
They are among 10 CPL players representing their nations during the current FIFA international window, in which club teams are required to release players for national teams.
PFC leads the season series over HFX with two wins and a draw in three games before the clubs’ close out their season account Sept. 18 at the Wanderers Ground in Halifax
PFC leads the all-time series 10-5-7 in wins-losses-draws.
