It’s a given any team mentored by Stephen Hart, who has coached Canada and Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup qualifying, will be a tough nut to crack.
It took Pacific FC 85 minutes until they solved the HFX Wanderers of Halifax, scoring on an Alejandro Diaz penalty kick for the winning goal, after a slicing Marco Bustos was brought down in the box.
The 2-1 victory before 3,034 fans at Starlight Stadium pushed the defending Canadian Premier League-champion Tridents to 3-0 to start the season while HFX fell to 1-2.
The result ruined the Island homecoming of former Victoria Highlanders Premier Development League star Cory Bent, who bent it like Cory, on a free kick outside the box to tie the game 1-1 late in the first half.
“It was a credit to our response in the second half and a deserved result,” said PFC head coach James Merriman.
“It’s important to show we can win these types of games. It’s a great start to the season.”
PFC defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère was named man of the match to continue his steely comeback. He was limited to 12 PFC games late last season after being seriously injured with the Canada U-23 team in training in Mexico on the eve of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the Tokyo Olympics.
“It was an emotional, hard time, a tough time,” said Meilleur-Giguère, who added he is in a good place now.
Merriman gave Meilleur-Giguère a new backfield configuration to work with, inserting 2021 regulars Abdou Samake and Jordan Haynes as starters for the first time this season.
Meilleur-Giguère described the backline performance as “solid.”
Added bench-boss Merriman: “It shows the depth of our squad. [Samake and Haynes] worked hard in training and deserved the opportunity and they took it and we got another positive result.”
HFX is dealing with the blow of losing 2021 CPL MVP and Golden Boot winner João Morelli for the remainder of the season following his ACL injury last week.
“We feel for him but it’s part of football and you can only deal with the players who are there. I thought we worked collectively as a unit,” said Hart, about his team’s response in the wake of the Morelli’s injury.
The Tridents opened scoring at 24 minutes with Manny Aparicio heading home a softly-perfect tight cross from Diaz.
Bent leveled for HFX at 45 minutes.
“I love the Island and have good memories here,” said the former Victoria Highlander amateur player.
“Next time I come back hopefully to [win].”
PFC plays its first away game Wednesday night and meets FC Edmonton, which has two draws and a loss.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
