Pacific FC advance to the Semi-Finals after a 2:0 win over TSS Rovers FC

Pacific FC have advanced to the Semi-Finals of the 2023 Canadian Championship after 2:0 home win over TSS Rovers FC from Richmond, British Columbia. Joshua Heard and Adonijah Reid were the goalscorers while Kieran Baskett and his backline posted the clean sheet at Starlight Stadium in Langford.

Pacific FC will meet the 2022 champions Vancouver Whitecaps FC in an all-British Columbia Semi-Finals match in late May. Just two years ago, Pacific FC upset Whitecaps FC at Starlight Stadium in the Preliminary Round of the 2021 competition. That was the same year that Pacific FC won the 2021 Canadian Premier League Championship in the league playoffs.

There was little to write home from the first half, although TSS Rovers FC may have had the best chance when a cross was pushed out by the post in the 44th minute. Then almost 15 minutes into the second half, Pacific had their best chance on a Heard cross that was headed just wide by Sean Young.

Finally in the 65th minute, Pacific FC earned a penalty after Heard was tripped in the penalty area by substitute Gabriel Escobar. He stepped up to the penalty spot and made no mistake with his kick for the 1-0 lead.

A minute after conceding the opener, TSS Rovers had their best chance on a curling shot by Erik Edwardson, but the ball sailed just wide of the target. From there, the semi-professional side from League1 BC just couldn’t unlock the Pacific FC defence. Edwardson nearly had another chance in the 91st minute, but by then they were already down 2-0.

Pacific FC’s second goal, scored in the 87th minute, was perhaps the nicest of all four matches in the Quarter-Finals. Reid scored on an acrobatic diving volley on the cross by substitute David Brazao.