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Pacific FC opens CONCACAF League play with draw in Jamaica

WATERHOUSE FC 0, PACIFIC FC 0
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Toronto FC forward Jozy Altidore (17) scores a goal against Pacific FC goalkeeper Callum Irving (13) during first half Canadian Championship semifinal action in a file photo. Irving made several key saves against Waterhouse FC on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler

WATERHOUSE FC 0 - PACIFIC FC 0

It wasn’t a victory, but it’s as close to one as you can get in soccer.

Pacific FC ventured into hostile territory of Kingston, Jamaica, on Tuesday night for the first leg of their CONCACAF League tournament preliminary round set against Jamaican National Premier League regular-season champion Waterhouse FC and came away with a valuable point in a 0-0 draw.

The second leg goes Tuesday night at the friendly confines of Starlight Stadium in Langford and a 1-0 PFC victory would be enough to send the Tridents through to the Round of 16 against CS Herediano of Costa Rica.

Pacific FC goalkeeper Callum Irving stood tall in the vistor’s net at Sabina Park Stadium, making several key early saves until his teammates found their legs and started creating chances in the Waterhouse end.

“This is what we play for, the big matches with high intensity and big pressure and I think we did very well for ourselves,” Irving told CONCACAF reporters during the post-game news conference. “It wasn’t easy, it’s a difficult place to play here, but we did very well and we’re looking forward to Tuesday night back home now.”

The Waterhouse roster boasts a combined 48 caps for the Jamaican national team. Former English League 1 Preston North End midfielder Keammar Daley has 27 caps and two goals internationally, while forward Tremaine Stewart has 11 caps and two goals. Goalkeeper Akeem Chambers and midfielder and former Whitecaps Residency prospect Keithy Simpson have two national team caps each.

The CONCACAF Round of 16 is lated for Aug. 16-18 for the first legs and Aug. 23-25 for the second legs. The quarter-finals are Sept. 6-8 for the first legs and Sept. 13-15 for the second legs. The semifinals are Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13. The finals are Oct. 25-27 and Nov. 1-3.

Six teams — the semifinalists and top-two quarter-finalists — will advance to the 22-team 2023 CONCACAF Champions League featuring the big-league clubs of the region.

The format, however, will change after that with three regional tournaments qualifying clubs for a confederation-wide expanded 27-club CONCACAF Champions League beginning in 2024 that will crown the region’s best club team.

The 2020 CPL champion, Forge FC of Hamilton, reached the CONCACAF League semifinals last year and advanced to play in the CONCACAF Champions League this year.

CORNER KICKS: Pacific FC will now fly directly to Winnipeg to prepare for their Saturday CPL match against Valour FC at IG Field.

bdrewry@timescolonist.com