HIGHLIGHTS | Valour FC vs. Pacific FC (July 29, 2023) | Presented by tonybet

Pacific FC snapped a five-game winless skid on Saturday, as they defeated Valour 3-0 at IG Field, temporarily regaining control of the top spot in the CPL table in the process.

After scoring just two goals in their previous four games, they bested that total in just 90 minutes in this game, in a much-needed performance from the Vancouver Island-based side.

As for Valour, however, they remain mired in a slump of their own, as they’re now winless in five after this result, putting their playoff hopes in a precarious position with 11 games left in the season.

Yet, from the beginning of this match, Pacific came out flying, intent to find their form again. Because of that, they had a good look at goal just two minutes into the game, as Adonijah Reid found a wide-open Manny Aparicio at the back post with a dangerous cross, but Aparicio’s acrobatic attempt would hit the outside of the net and stay out.

Then, moments later, Aparicio did well to win back a ball in midfield, before running at Valour’s defence and narrowly slicing a shot wide of the mark from the edge of the box.

While Pacific failed to finish their first two chances of the game, however, they would not miss when a third presented itself. After a great ball from Aparicio out to Easton Ongaro on the wing, Ongaro would find Reid with a dangerous low cross into the box, one that he’d do well to open up his hips to finish in the low corner on his first touch.

With that lead intact, Pacific would then slow the game right down, as they started to get comfortable in possession.

As a result, the next opportunity for either side didn’t come until the 38th minute. This time, however, it’d go to Valour, as new signing Ahinga Selemani, making his first start for his new club, did well to unleash a dangerous shot from a tight angle, forcing a nice save out of Pacific’s Emil Gazdov in goal.

At the other end, Pacific looked to add their lead just minutes later, as they pushed numbers forward. After a nice spell of possession, the ball found Steffan Yeates at the edge of the box, but his shot would be nicely saved by Rayane Yesli.

Eager to get a second before half, Pacific then had a great look at goal in the 44th minute.

After a nice run in behind by Josh Heard, he’d tee up Reid, who’d force a strong save from Yesli with his left foot from inside of the box. Then, on the rebound, Heard managed to find Ongaro with a great cross, and he’d make contact with a near-perfect header, one that would be only kept out by an acrobatic save from Yesli to keep the score 1-0 at the half.

On the other side of half time, Valour would grow into the game, as they tried to chase an equalizer. They’d get a good look at goal in the 48th minute, as Jared Ulloa found Selemani with a nice cross, although his header would sail well wide of the mark.

From there, things would settle down, although it’d be Valour’s turn to be the aggressor.

Despite that, their next chance wouldn’t come until the 79th minute, as Walter Ponce had a good look at goal, but his shot would be blocked by a fantastic defensive recovery from Cédric Toussaint. Then, shortly after, Ponce had a good look on an acrobatic effort from just inside of the box, but his attempt would sail just over the goal.

Shortly after, Valour would come to regret those missed opportunities, as Pacific began to pull away. On a dangerous transition moment, Ayman Sellouf managed to play Josh Heard in behind Valour’s defence, where he’d do well to leather the ball into the top corner to make it 2-0.

Then, Pacific would immediately make it 3-0 less than two minutes later, as Kunle Dada-Luke managed to capitalize on another dangerous transition moment, finding a wide-open Sellouf at the back post for a tap-in.

From there, however, other than a pair of half-chances from either side, Pacific would cruise to victory from there, doing well to hold onto their lead the rest of the way.

BOX SCORE

Goals

5′ — Adonijah Reid (Pacific FC)

83′ — Josh Heard (Pacific FC)

85′ — Ayman Sellouf (Pacific FC)

Discipline

90+1′ — Yellow: Kian Williams (Valour FC)