HIGHLIGHTS: York United vs. Pacific FC (July 14, 2023)

For just the second time in the 2023 CPL season, top-of-the-table Pacific FC were held scoreless during a 0-0 draw with York United at York Lions Stadium.

The Tridents had a few good opportunities over the course of 90 minutes but were ultimately denied by a strong performance from Niko Giantsopoulos, as the York keeper made four saves. Emil Gazdov, meanwhile, was only called upon once in the Pacific net.

After some early pressure from the home side, Pacific created the match’s first clear-cut opportunity in the 13th minute. A turnover in midfield saw Steffen Yeates get a look at Giantsopoulos’s net, but the York keeper got down well to deny his low-driven shot.

In his return to York Lions Stadium, former club captain Manny Aparicio, now with Pacific then delivered a moment with which Nine Stripes supporters are plenty familiar. In the 24th minute, he sent a curling free kick over the wall, only to be denied what would have been a magnificent goal by the woodwork.

As the half wore on, the Nine Stripes controlled a significant amount of the possession, playing through the Pacific press well and creating a few half chances the down the flanks. The best of which fell to Osaze De Rosario on a clever low cross in the 36th minute, but his shot attempt was blocked. That was the last real opportunity of the half, as the two sides went into the break deadlocked at 0-0.

Looking for a spark, Pacific brought on Kunle Dada-Luke and Ayman Sellouf at the half. The second half, however, started much like the first with few real chances for either side the threaten.

Cédric Toussaint had a few looks from distance but wasn’t able to keep the ball down on either occasion. At the other end, Oussama Alou looked like the most dangerous York player, but he too lacked quality in the final third.

With the game starting to get stretched in the late going, however, the visitors started to test Giantsopoulos. First, it was the substitute Sellouf who forced a save on a low shot from out wide in the 69th minute, before Pacific found themselves through on goal again less than a minute later down the right flank, this time with Adonijah Reid’s shot being denied by the York keeper.

Pacific broke through again in the 79th minute, with Sellouf and Daniels finding themselves in a 2-on-1. Sellouf plays his compatriot Daniels behind the York line, but the striker sent his wide-open attempt over the bar. A few minutes later, it was Aparicio who forced another strong save from Giantsopoulos.

With the draw, the Tridents are now four points ahead of Forge for the top spot in the table, while York moves ahead of Cavalry into third place for the time being. The Nine Stripes have now won just once in their last six matches, while Pacific are winless in their last three.

BOX SCORE

Goals

N/A

Discipline

12′ — Yellow: Paris Gee (York United)
49′ — Yellow: Tass Mourdoukoutas (York United)
60′ — Yellow: Cédric Toussaint (Pacific FC)
66′ — Yellow: Djenairo Daniels (Pacific FC)
74′ — Yellow: Eric Lajeunesse (Paccific FC)