Like the opening to any good novel, the first few pages provide an introduction to the key characters and their lot in life. Three weeks in, and the key characters in the inaugural Canadian Premier League season have been introduced, but it remains far too early to draw any wide sweeping conclusions about any team, manager or player.
Yet, as Pacific FC has played its first four matches, it is hard not to look at some of the storylines that have emerged and wonder about some potentially worrisome trends that have developed.
Pacific successfully opened their season at home at Westhills Stadium in Langford on 28 April with a 1-0 victory against HFX Wanderers. It was a sun drenched, festive occasion, and the workman like performance on the pitch was largely overshadowed by the overall positive, carnival-like atmosphere that introduced the club to Vancouver Island locals.
The swelling crowd and raucous enthusiasm of the opening match was slightly dimmed when Pacific lost at home on 1 May, 2-1 to Valour FC from Winnipeg. The visitors took an early 1-0 lead from a nice strike from Stephen Hoyle, who was arguably slightly offside in the buildup. 19 year old Jose Hernandez equalized for Pacific at the stroke of half-time, but Valour’s Dylan Carreiro put Valour up for good in the 78th minute, as his shot from outside the box took the most unfortunate bounce off Pacific defender, Ryan McCurdy’s hanging leg and dribbled past Pacific keeper, Mark Village.
The match proved to be a frustrating occasion for Pacific, who by the end of 90 minutes held a 57-43 advantage in possession, showed some skillful ingenuity from Noah Verhoeven and Kadin Chung, but could not capitalize on a series of crosses put into the Valour penalty area. Perhaps most calamitous was Marcus Haber missing two absolute sitters in front of goal, earning early consideration for blooper of the year and ample derision on CanPL social media.
You all thought Salah’s miss was bad yesterday?
How about this from Marcus Haber? Unlucky! pic.twitter.com/z3v3VxHcS0— Nine Stripes Podcast (@9stripespodcast) May 2, 2019
Haber, who was brought in from Dundee FC of the Scottish Premiership, was touted upon signing with Pacific to be a potential goal merchant and a respected leadership figure for the young players that are littered throughout the lineup. Unfortunately, the ignominy of that Valour match has proven to be the lasting image of the striker thus far this season, as he has missed the last two matches with an infected blister on one of his toes.
Comical finishing in front of goal or not, Haber’s absence has been undoubtedly felt, as Pacific dropped a 3-0 decision to Forge in Hamilton on 8 May, and also failed to score despite playing 11 v 10 for an hour in Edmonton on 12 May.
In what was their first ever away match, the club looked completely bamboozled in the first 20 minutes in Hamilton. Forge FC, led by a surprisingly springy and skillful David Choiniere and a dizzying Emery Welshmen, pinged the ball around standstill Pacific defenders and buzzed around the Pacific penalty area. They took a 2-0 lead in the first 14 minutes, well before Pacific could manage a worthy touch of the ball. By the time Pacific had found its bearings, the game was well out of reach, and even then, they continued to appear bereft of ideas. 20 year old Terran Campbell replaced Haber to lead Pacific’s attack for the evening, and despite the obvious difference in skillset and size between the two players, Pacific continued to play a direct game, with largely unmet crosses into the box. It proved to be a completely impotent performance, and raised questions about Pacific’s lack of depth.
The club appears to have invested much of their salary cap space (which remains a league wide state secret) on experienced defender Marcel de Jong, who tore his Achilles tendon in preseason training. In addition to missing de Jong and Haber, Pacific has also been without central defender, Hendik Starostzik, who scored the club’s first goal in its first match, and has not played since, purportedly nursing a foot injury. These three players represent Pacific’s best and most experienced options, and without them, the club has had a roster of only 17 players, many of whom are young and inexperienced at the professional level.
Manager Michael Silberbauer has been forced to play young players by necessity, not necessarily by choice. Outside of Issey Nakajima-Farran, the club does not have another player over 30, and relies on midfielders largely in their early 20s. Silberbauer has also fielded the youngest player in the league, Ahmed Alghamdi, a 17 year high school student, in two substitute appearance. Pacific FC has already eclipsed the league required 1,000 minutes from U21 players in its first three matches (York 9 is second, with 401 minutes in two matches) and will likely continue to rely on these players as no further signings are anticipated anytime soon.
Pacific traveled cross country to Edmonton, playing FC Edmonton in their home opener four days after the Forge match. Silberbauer made only two changes from the disaster in Hamilton, starting Jose Hernandez (who is from Edmonton) and starting Ryan McCurdy ahead of Blake Smith. After a nervy start for both clubs, the 27th minute brought a flashpoint as Edmonton’s Phillipe Lincourt-Joseph was sent off for a two footed lunge on McCurdy.
📰 #CanPLxOneSoccer | #CanPL
🚨 Contentious RED CARD given to @FCEdmontonNow’s Philippe Lincourt-Joseph in the 27th minute of play
@FCEdmontonNow 🆚 @Pacificfccpl
🐇 FCE 0 – 0 PFC 🌊 pic.twitter.com/r5qiMExfxc— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) May 12, 2019
Whether the straight red was justified or not, it provided Silberbauer’s road weary side a well timed opportunity to play on the front foot. Yet, despite over an hour of playing 11 v 10, it appeared as though Edmonton was the better team, as they defended resolutely, countered with pace and generated the better chances. Pacific appeared leggy in the second half (Terran Campbell was seen huffing and puffing throughout), fired a series of meagre shot attempts at Edmonton keeper Connor James, and were probably lucky to leave with a point.
With only four matches played, of course there is much left to be written about Pacific FC’s inaugural season. No doubt the schedule to start the season has been cruel, as it has had four matches in 13 days, with grueling cross country travel. It has been a turbulent ride until now, with the incredible high of the first victory in the first match, tempered with injuries to its most well known and most experienced players, forcing a series of unheralded and unproven players to take the stage.
Like with any great novel however, the conditions are now set for an unexpected hero to emerge. For that, we await.
Jaideep Kanungo
Jaikan Sport 