FC EDMONTON 3
PACIFIC FC 1
Easton Ongaro, the FC Edmonton striker who stands six-foot-six, tormented the smallish Pacific FC defensive corps with two goals in a 3-1 Canadian Premier League soccer victory for the Eddies before 3,745 fans at Clarke Stadium on Saturday.
Compounding matters for the PFC back line was that the other starting FC Edmonton forward, former Leeds United prospect Tomi Ameobi, is six-foot-three.
“We definitely knew we had a major advantage,” Ongaro said in a statement.
“It worked. We had tons of chances, tons of balls crossed in, great deliveries. We should have had more.”
Ongaro, who comes from a family well known in the Edmonton soccer community — uncle Ross Ongaro played pro for the old Brickmen and Drillers teams — scored for the third consecutive game.
Former Antwerp pro Oumar Diouck, who represented Belgium Under-17s, scored his fifth goal of the season with a deft half-scissor kick, with his back to the goal, to put the Eddies ahead at 32 minutes. That was answered by PFC midfielder Ben Fisk two minutes later on a play that began with a Noah Verhoeven free-kick that pinballed around until Fisk put it in.
Ongaro regained the lead for the Eddies two minutes into the second half. This time, PFC had no answer. Ongaro added the insurance goal at 66 minutes.
Letting leads, or tie games, slip away has become a tiring refrain for PFC.
“If you look at our record this year, it’s a pretty reoccurring theme for us, letting in a goal after a restart,” Canada-capped Fisk said in a statement.
“Whether it’s after someone scoring, or the start of the game, or the start of the second half.
“I’m running out of words to say about what we necessarily need to do, but it’s obviously something we’re working on.”
PFC coach Michael Silberbauer entered the game noting the need for better overall team defence.
PFC goaltender Nolan Wirth, from Comox, was under constant pressure as the NCAA Pac-12 Oregon State Beavers graduate was forced into nine saves as FC Edmonton had 20 shots at goal to PFC’s six. University of Alberta Golden Bears graduate Connor James made two saves for the Eddies.
PFC (1-4-1 in the fall season and 3-5-2 in spring) is away to York9 next Saturday in Toronto, before playing Valour FC of Winnipeg at Westhills Stadium on Aug. 24.
FC Edmonton (3-1-2 and 4-4-2) is undefeated in its past four home games, earning victories against HFX of Halifax and now PFC, and points against Forge FC of Hamilton and Valour.
