Pacific FC wins season-opener against Forge FC

Pacific FC returned victorious to Starlight Stadium for the first time this year, in a rematch of the 2021 Canadian Premier League final against Hamilton-based Forge FC.

Goals from Alejandro Diaz and debut defender Amer Didic allowed PFC to hold on through a late scare, to win the game 2-1.

More than 4,000 boisterous supporters were in the stands to see the team’s first game back, including Blake McStravick, who’s a member of the Lake Side Buoys, a supporters club for PFC. McStravick also saw PFC’s last game when they played in the CPL final in Hamilton.

“It is the best sporting atmosphere in Victoria, bar none,” he said.

Office for the day @Pacificfccpl win their season opener against @ForgeFCHamilton pic.twitter.com/PYD3tRaJ0H

— bailey (@moreton_bailey) April 11, 2022

The day started great for the locals, Diaz cooly from Josh Heard’s ball across the box to make the score 1-0 after just five minutes.

Forge FC probably had the better performance on balance, but it was the home team who scored the second goal – Marco Bustos swinging in the cross from a free-kick on the right and Didic rising highest to head home from close range.

It was a tense final few minutes when Forge FC pulled one back with PFC losing focus from a corner allowing Forge’s Alexander Borje Achinioti-Jonsson to steal in and head home, to make the score 2-1 on 88 minutes. Pacific ultimately held out, to start the season strong.

There were faces new and old on the field and bench, with this being PFC’s coach James Merriman’s first game in charge of the team. New defenders Didic and Nathan Mavila also made their debuts for the team.

Familiar faces were sitting on the opposition’s bench, with championship-winning former team members Terran Campbell and Alessandro Hojarbpour lining up for Forge FC after being greeted with jeers by some in the stands.

“Making a lateral move to our rival, no, it doesn’t make any sense. So no, we’re not happy for them and we’re not happy to see them back here,” McStravick noted from the stands.

PFC was wearing a new alternate jersey, designed by Coast Salish artist Maynard Johnny Jr. The artist’s traditional name is Thii Hayqwtun, meaning big or huge fire. The jersey depicted a salmon and a child’s face on the jersey.

$20 from the proceeds of each jersey sold is going to the artist’s charity of choice, and $5,000 worth of his time will benefit Hope and Health’s Youth Champion Program.

ALSO READ: Canadian Blood Services puts out call for donations in Greater Victoria