Saturday, July 6, 2019 ~ LANGFORD
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
It was a slow start for Pacific FC in the first half of the July 6 home game at Westhills Stadium against Cavalry FC. But after half-time they picked up some sharper energy and brought home two goals — by Ben Fisk (at 59 minutes) and Terran Campbell (at 83 minutes).
Cavalry FC played with their trademark robust aggressive energy throughout the game. The steadiness of their force is something to be reckoned with. They pulled off three goals. Final score: 2-3 Pacific FC-Cavalry FC.
“We had a strong defence, we usually are,” said Cavalry FC coach Tommy Wheeldon, Jr. “Those are soft goals. They owned it. We gifted two goals (to Pacific FC). But three points is three points,” he said matter-of-factly after the game.
However, Wheeldon had one particular concern: “The referees have to control the game a bit better,” he said with reference to one of his players (Julian Büscher) getting an elbow in the teeth.
“The boys like winning. We’re the undisputed champions of the league. The guys are playing their hearts out,” said the vibrant Wheeldon. “We’re very controlled, we like to control the tempo of the game — when we have the ball and when we don’t.”
Pacific FC Coach Michael Silberbauer is still working hard to move his team forward. “Even though we did a lot of things right, there was a little bit of energy missing in the team in the first half,” said Silberbauer in a media scrum after the game. “Then we had some momentum in the second half.”
“They’re doing a good job. But when they put in their last bit of energy, we saw that we could compete against the best,” said Silberbauer about his young side. “This is a team developing. They need to stay focused. It’s the way it is, and has to be. We should keep it ambitious, in every single game.”
About the Calgary-based Cavalry FC team, Silberbauer said: “They move around well, they’re not afraid of a simple ball. It’s a very composed team. It’s up to the rest of us to catch up.”
Silberbauer said he hopes to see his players keep their composure. “I’m very pleased with the group that they’re willing to learn. It’s all in the detail. The detail went against us today,” he said.
Regarding Terran Campbell‘s head-butt goal near the end of the game at 83 minutes: “We needed something to change it up… to have players commit a little bit more going forward. He was there when he needed to, we had a chance,” said Silberbauer with some relief.
Ben Fisk who scored the first of two goals today told media: “In the first half we were terrible, a shadow of the team we were in the last two games.” Fisk said there is “lots to work on and improve”. “We got a good attack going, never really lost the ball, but we got hit on counterattack a lot.”
As Pacific FC team captain today, Fisk says he will get the guys together and discuss what was going on in today’s game. In training on Monday morning they will work on individually improving. “And collectively we’re addressing that as well.” Fisk said that in the “the second half today I thought we played quite well”.
“We maturing on the field, accumulating minutes,” said Fisk, who added that he had a word with Ahmed Alghamdi (the youngest player, who made an impressive goal in the July 1 game on Canada Day but missed one today). “Keep your head up man. This week didn’t go as well, but that’s what being a professional is about — ups and downs. The young guys are getting used it. Physically it’s hard, and in professional sport mentally it’s hard dealing with ups and downs week in, week out,” said Fisk.
Pacific FC was slow in the first half in a couple of games. “Going into the first half … we’re trying to address that. The last few week’s it’s been a lot better. Today it wasn’t and that cost us the game. There was a combination of a few things, but we’re definitely addressing it,” Fisk told West Shore Voice News. “As a team we can defend better, and the strikers too.”
The Cavalry FC player Julian Büscher — who is playing here from Germany — said after the game about his injury: “Canadians are very strong people. There’s no headache, just the lip, and the teeth are okay. I have a retainer, so I’m okay.”
“This is the first game of the Fall season. Everybody wanted to be on the front foot,” said Buscher. We’re happy with the win. You can’t give up easy goals to your opponents. If we give them something easy it will punish us, so we can’t do that. We were fully in this game. We didn’t put our chances away,” he said.
What’s the secret to the Cavalry FC’s strong defence? “Everybody is fully committed to work really hard for the brother who’s next to them. We are very tight in the back, the lines are not too spread out, that makes us strong.” said Buscher to West Shore Voice News.
Today’s game had a Pride theme, including the Stewie mascot dressed with a rainbow cape. Special Pacific FC Pride scarves were on sale at the swag booth.
Mingling out in the beer garden and vendor area ahead of the game were Pacific FC CEO Rob Friend and Pacific FC President Josh Simpson. Also out and about was Pacific FC Operations VP Brad Norris-Jones including at the entry and ticket area.
After the game after pretty much everyone else had gone home, Friend and Simpson had a chat with Coach Silberbauer on the Pacific FC VIP box balcony.
Today’s stadium attendance was 2,399. The stadium will seat 6,000 once additional bleachers are completed in time for the August 24 game.
===== DETAIL:
Goals
21′ – Sergio Camargo (Cavalry FC)
27′ – Nico Pasquotti (Cavalry FC)
59′ – Ben Fisk(Pacific FC)
61′ – Sergio Camargo (Cavalry FC)
83′ – Terran Campbell (Pacific FC)
Discipline
36′ – Jose Escalante (Cavalry FC)
57′ – Matthew Baldisimo (Pacific FC)
64′ – Victor Blasco (Pacific FC)
Three key performers in the July 6, 2019 match (as chosen by CPL):
Sergio Camargo (Cavalry FC) – Cavalry’s no. 10 had PFC’s number at Westhills. His opener showed his vision and pace, quick to act on a giveaway in tight space. His second, while a tap-in, put him top of the CPL’s goalscoring charts.
Elijah Adekugbe (Cavalry FC) – Cavalry’s midfield everyman collected his league-leading fourth assist on Camargo’s first goal, smartly slicing PFC’s backline in the process. Adekugbe had an impressive match at the other end too, sniffing out Pacific FC’s work in the middle of the park.
Ben Fisk (Pacific FC) – PFC’s captain led by example, scoring early in the second half – down by two goals – and showing some individual skill in the process. Fisk was a key creator in the final third for PFC, making several difficult passes while opening up a few chances for himself, too.