Pacific FC advance to the Quarter-Finals after kicks from the penalty mark

Pacific FC advanced to the Quarter-Finals of the 2023 Canadian Championship after they eliminated Calgary’s Cavalry FC on kicks from the penalty mark. The two sides scored a goal apiece and were even after 90 minutes, but then Pacific FC were perfect five-for-five from the penalty spot. Goalkeeper Emil Gazdov stopped Calgary’s fourth and last kicker to help make the difference.

Pacific FC from Langford, Vancouver Island will face TSS Rovers FC from Richmond in an all-British Columbia Quarter-Finals knockout match in May. With their win in the First Round, Pacific FC have eliminated Cavalry FC twice in the last three years.

In the 2023 win, Calgary’s Myer Bevan opened the scoring in the 28th minute after he got through on a long ball from Dan Klomp. It was Bevan’s fourth career Canadian Championship goal in two years.

Langford’s Easton Ongaro then equalised 11 minutes later on a header from a Sean Young free kick. It was Ongaro’s first career goal in the competition.

This marks the second time that Pacific FC have advanced out of the First Round, although last year they started their Canadian Championship journey in the Quarter-Finals as the reigning CPL North Star Shield winners. In this year’s Quarter-Finals, they will meet League1 BC side TSS Rovers FC for the first time ever in an official competition.

ers in League1 BC, League1 Ontario and Québec’s Premier League (Première ligue de soccer du Québec). Winners of the 2023 Canadian Championship lift the Voyageurs Cup and qualify to the annual international competition, Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. Winners of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.