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Pacific FC vs FC Supra Québec |
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It would be surprising if this match ended 0-0. Why? Because neither team has managed to keep a clean sheet all season.
That said, the two sides have had very different campaigns so far.
With 14 points, FC Supra can still hope to close the gap to fourth place, while Pacific FC continue to struggle. With just three points and no wins this season, a playoff qualification already seems like a distant dream as the club prepares to play its 14th match of the campaign, the halfway point of the season.
Vancouver FC, currently fourth and occupying the final playoff spot, are 17 points ahead of Pacific. League leaders Forge FC are 31 points clear.
Everything has gone wrong for Pacific FC this season. The club owns the league's worst attack with 15 goals scored (tied with Inter Toronto) and the worst defence, having conceded 30 goals.
The club has changed coaches, but the arrival of Terry Dunfield has not yet translated into better results. In his first game in charge, Pacific fell 3-2 away to Atlético Ottawa, their fourth straight defeat.
That said, the match was entertaining, and it would be unfair to say everything was negative. Against Ottawa, Pacific finished with 3.99 expected goals, but, as has often been the case this season, their finishing let them down. Ottawa goalkeeper Chris Kalongo also deserves credit for his outstanding performance, which earned him a place in the CPL Team of the Week and certainly did not help Pacific FC.
Dunfield also handed Matteo Schiavoni a rare start after the midfielder had seen very little playing time. Competition within the squad is expected to increase and could provide an extra boost for the players.
To strengthen the attack, the British Columbia club has brought back a Canadian Premier League veteran. Shaan Hundal, who previously played for Valour FC, Vancouver FC and Inter Toronto, has just arrived on the West Coast on loan from Brooklyn in the USL, where he had been playing since January. Max Piepgrass has also joined from Cavalry FC.
With this home match against a Supra side that has not exactly been in sparkling form, Pacific FC may see an opportunity to get their season back on track—at least a little.
On the Quebec side, player fitness will have to be assessed as Supra prepare to play their third match in eight days while travelling across the country from east to west.
Nick Razzaghi is a strong believer in squad rotation, which could help keep fresh legs on the pitch, but to what effect? FC Supra have recorded four defeats and just one win in their last five matches, although no two games have looked the same for this team.
Despite the loss to Cavalry FC, the overall performance was very encouraging. By contrast, both the display and the result against Vancouver FC were disappointing. Sandwiched between those matches was a dramatic comeback victory over the Halifax Wanderers in Nova Scotia after trailing by two goals, highlighting the team's resilience and the ability of striker Loïc Kwemi to make the difference when it matters.
Sean Rea, who added an assist against Cavalry after going three matches without a goal contribution, is another attacking weapon that Pacific's fragile defence will have to deal with.
The two teams have no shortage of challenges, and both previous meetings this season were tightly contested (a 3-2 win for FC Supra and a 1-1 draw). Another closely fought encounter is expected.
NEWS & NOTES
- Apart from Zachary Fernandez, who is working his way back to fitness, the entire FC Supra squad is available.
- This will be Terry Dunfield's first home match in charge of Pacific FC.
- New arrivals Shaan Hundal and Max Piepgrass could make their Pacific FC debuts.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Pacific FC : Melvin; Heard, Belluz, Konincks, Greco-Taylor; Gomulka, Juhmi, Schiavoni; Toualy, Bustos, Diaz
FC Supra : Milli; Auguste, Chrétien, Deslandes, Wandje; Boughanmi, Mlah, Rea; Choinière, Bey, Kwemi
Nick Razzaghi (FC Supra head coach):
"Despite the quick turnaround between matches and Pacific's difficult season, we'll prepare the same way we always do. They have a new coach, a new staff, and they played very well against Ottawa—they deserved to win. They have nothing to lose and they have a lot of good players. We're in no position to take any match for granted. The most important thing for us is to have players who are 100 per cent fit, ready, and full of energy for this game."
Loïc Kwemi:
"Playing three matches in eight days is never easy, especially physically, but with the rotations we've been making, we'll be ready. You have to be prepared and able to adapt."
