Pacific FC goalkeeper Callum Irving’s run of three consecutive clean sheets has largely gone under the radar in the Canadian Premier League.
That’s what happens when your streak is running concurrently to that of Valour FC goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois’ league-record streak of five straight clean sheets.
“Callum’s work goes unnoticed but he has been fantastic for us,” said PFC head coach Pa-Modou Kah. “He is a true professional and leader and has the confidence of teammates and staff.”
Irving, a 28-year-old native of Vancouver with one Canada cap and two Under-20 Canada appearances, takes his streak into tonight’s game at 7 p.m. PT in the Winnipeg bubble against 2019 and 2020 CPL champion Forge FC of Hamilton, Ont.
It isn’t lost on anybody that the last team to score on Irving — who was first-team all-conference in NCAA Div. 1 for the University of Kentucky Wildcats — was Forge FC in a 3-0 victory on July 4. It was Pacific FC’s lone loss of the season.
PFC (3-1-2) rebounded to blank Atletico Ottawa 1-0 and York United 3-0 before playing to a scoreless draw against the HFX Wanderers of Halifax on Tuesday. Irving was named PFC man of the match against HFX.
All three of Forge’s goals against PFC came late in their first meeting of the season at IG Stadium. That is the game that turned the fortunes of Forge FC (3-3) following an uncharacteristic 0-2 start. Forge FC is an experienced and cagey club that reached the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF League playdowns last year and knocked on the door of the CONCACAF Champions League.
“We had the better chances,” Kah said about the loss to Forge. “But football is a ruthless game.”
Tonight will be PFC’s seventh of eight games in Winnipeg, a run that concludes on Wednesday against Atletico Ottawa. Pacific FC then departs Manitoba to prepare to meet Cavalry FC of Calgary on July 30 at Starlight Stadium, which will be the first CPL game on the Island since Oct. 19, 2019.
CORNER KICKS: Pacific FC is hosting a B.C. wildfires fund-raiser big-screen game-watch party tonight from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the PFC Island Training Centre at 3299 Kettle Creek Cres. in Langford featuring a barbecue, beer, pop and “Bustos Bangers,” the latter named in honour of the crafty midfield magician Marco Bustos. All proceeds go to the Red Cross’s efforts regarding the Interior wildfires.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
