PACIFIC FC 3 YORK UNITED 0
In a sign of the reopening, Marco Bustos’ parents were on hand at IG Stadium as the Winnipeg native scored twice for Pacific FC in a 3-0 Canadian Premier League victory over York United on Saturday.
Up to 2,000 fans, six per cent of stadium capacity, are allowed into the venue for games in the Winnipeg bubble.
“I’m very family oriented and seeing them was emotional and meant a lot to me,” said Bustos.
On Monday, the CPL will announce a return to a normal season following the Manitoba bubble, in which each team is playing eight games.
“Returning to normal life is important,” said Bustos, capped six times for Canada.
“I am sure fans are growing tired of watching the games [online].”
PFC coach Pa-Modou Kah concurred. “It’s going to be great to be enjoying soccer again in our communities,” he said.
“It’s been tough on everybody. It’s a credit to our players and staff the way they have handled this and been able to put a product on the pitch during the pandemic.”
PFC (3-1-1) got off to a fast start with two goals in the first nine minutes against York (1-2-2) as Bustos and Matteo Polisi, with his first pro goal, counted.
Bustos put another away at 53 minutes.
“2-0 is not always the best score line in football and is tricky,” said Bustos.
“Once we got the third goal,” we controlled the game,” the 2020 CPL MVP finalist added.
Kah said: “The boys got a good start, then got a bit sloppy and casual.
“We challenged them to have a better second half and they did. We’re not satisfied. It’s only five games. We have to keep pushing.”
CORNER KICKS: Kah was capped 10 times for Norway, but wary of ancestral connections on his PFC roster to both England and Italy, was cagey when asked for a prediction for today’s Euro 2020 final: “Not since 1966 has England won a major title and it would mean a lot for them. But Italy was my dark horse and they have a history of stepping up. I’m just hoping for a great final.”
