July 14, 2023...Match Analysis: Pacific FC and York United battle to scoreless draw (from canpl.ca)
MATCH ANALYSIS: Pacific FC and York United battle to scoreless draw
2023-07-14
by MITCHELL TIERNEY, DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER (@MITCHELLTIERNEY)
Final Score: York United 0-0 Pacific FC
Goalscorers: N/A
Game of the 2023 season: 58
CPL match: 425
Match in a minute or less
Pacific FC and York United played to a scoreless draw under the Friday night lights of York Lions Stadium,
just the second time the league-leading Tridents have been held without a goal this season.
Niko Giantsopoulos made four saves for his fourth clean sheet of the season. Emil Gazdov, meanwhile, was tested
just once for his second career clean sheet in the Pacific net.
After a cagey opening 45 minutes, Pacific had a number of chances late to win the match, the best of which
came in the 79th minute when Djenairo Daniels put the ball over the net despite finding himself in alone on goal.
Giantsopoulos denied a flurry of other late chances, as York held on for just their second home clean sheet
of the season.
Pacific FC are now winless in four straight matches for the first time this season, and could see their lead
in the standings drop to just a single point if Forge can pick up three points on Saturday.
Three Observations
Giantsopoulos denies Pacific after late flurry of opportunities, as the Tridents bemoan another slow start
As Friday’s match wound down, Pacific FC desperately pushed for a winner. The visitors had seven shot attempts
in the final half-hour of the match, forcing three late saves from Giantsopoulos, but left York Lions Stadium
with just a single point and no goals.
It was their performance in the opening 45 minutes, however, that has coach James Merriman concerned, as Pacific
once again started slow. They managed just one shot, and two touches in the York box while conceding the vast
majority of possession in the first half.
“The biggest focus for us was to start well, and to start right, and I didn’t feel that we did that,” said Merriman.
“I don’t know what we are waiting for, I’m not sure why, we need to go back and look at it and talk on it…give
them credit the players that came in made a difference, made an impact, but we need to start games right.”
In the second half, the introduction of Ayman Sellouf, as it has done often this season, started to change the game
for Pacific while Djenairo Daniels also provided energy through the middle. But Pacific could not beat
Niko Giantsopoulos on the day, as the York keeper now leads the league with 50 saves made, and picked up his
fourth clean sheet.
“He’s been real good for us this year, he has made some big saves,” said York United manager Martin Nash. “He made
a big one in Vancouver [a few] games ago to preserve a win for us, he’s been great for us, a great shot-stopper…he’s
been fantastic for us all year at it was great for him to be rewarded with a clean sheet.”
After allowing a goal in the 88th minute, the last time York played Pacific, the Nine Stripes were able to see
out the match which will be good for their confidence going forward. For Pacific, they head home to the island
with some significant work to do in order to regain the standards that have made them the league’s elite side
in 2023.
“I think we’ve started to maybe coast a little bit, we’ve started to maybe think that we are going to show up
and just win games,” said Pacific midfielder Manny Aparicio. “Especially first half we could have done more to
demand on the defensive side, to win the ball back more, to keep the ball a bit more, to show that we are the
first-place team.”
Both sides adopt a cautious approach in opening half, limiting transitional opportunities
The start of Friday’s match was an important point for both clubs heading into this match. Pacific, having failed
to score the opening goal in their last three matches, and York with a historically poor showing at home last
time out against rival Forge in a 4-0 loss.
What resulted was a cagey opening 45 with Pacific on the road content to sit back in their shape and allow the home
side the majority of the ball. When they won the ball back, however, especially in their own third, they would
rarely move the ball forward quickly, instead shifting it across the backline.
When York were in possession, Pacific tried to press them and found some joy in moments, particularly in a stretch
starting in the 13th minute when an interception in midfield led to a good chance for Steffen Yeates. Overall,
however, some quick passing from the Nine Stripes midfield denied Pacific any further opportunities generated
by their high press.
Oussama Alou, in particular, did a good job of dropping back in moments and providing a passing outlet for York’s
central defenders so that they couldn’t be caught on the ball. From there he was able to move the ball forward,
creating five chances during the match.
“I thought we controlled the tempo really well in the first half, control of transitions is big against them,
said Martin Nash. “I’m pleased with the effort and the performance, a good bounce back from last week where our
effort level for whatever reason was low. We went to work this week and I thought we were better tactically,
better defensively, created more, just didn’t hit the target.”
York had 60.5 per cent possession and an impressive 91.3 per cent pass completion through the first 45 minutes.
However, as Nash said they failed to convert on some good offensive moves, which would have turned a solid start
to the match for the Nine Stripes into a great one and potentially a single point at home into three.
Young backline impresses for Pacific FC on the road
With their third match in less than a week, Pacific FC chose to shuffle their lineup again, particularly at the back
where they made three changes from Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Halifax. Goalkeeper Emil Gazdov (19) made his first start
in nine matches, while 20-year-old Paul Amedume and 19-year-old fullback Eric Lajeunesse stepped into the back four.
The trio contributed to a solid defensive performance from Pacific, especially in the second half, as they limited
York to just a single shot on target over the course of 90 minutes and just 0.58 expected goals.
Amedume, in particular, was defensively solid completing 88.9 per cent of his passes and making five clearances while
doing a good job to limit the impact that York’s Osaze De Rosario could have on the match.
“I thought they were very good, I thought Paul Amedume was very good, very calm, good decision-making,” said Merriman.
He did well in the air, did well in his duels we know that. He has been training well and he deserved the opportunity.”
With so many young players in the backline, Thomas Meilleur-Giguère stepped up in a leadership role and was critical
to keeping Pacific organized and compact, especially against a York side who can be lethal in transitional moments.
“TMG stepped up and led the back four, which is not a normal back four that we play, so I thought they were all
excellent,” said Merriman. Good for those young players to get an opportunity.”
It is hard to think Amedume will step in regularly for a guy like Amer Didic, who was not in the 18 on Friday night,
or Lajeunesse will be a regular down the stretch either should his U SPORTS contract be extended. But the pair showed
once again that Pacific have some incredibly reliable depth options at the back.
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Niko Giantsopoulos, York United
It was another match where Giantsopoulos’s heroics earned York a point at home. He made big saves, was good
in distribution when he needed to be especially with Pacific pressing high and commanding of his area.
What’s next?
Pacific are back home, where they host Forge FC in a big clash at Starlight Stadium on Friday, July 21
(7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET). York, meanwhile, are on the road in Winnipeg, playing against Valour on Sunday,
July 23 (7:00 p.m. ET).
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