Pacific FC loses last home game of regular season, first place at risk

Pacific FC stumbled to a 2-1 loss against York United FC in front of a disappointed crowd in Langford, leaving their place atop the Canadian Premier League in jeopardy.

It was an incident-filled match for the team’s last home game of the regular season, and the last game the team plays before they face Toronto FC in the Canadian Championship semifinal on Nov. 3.

PFC dominated possession throughout and had the biggest chance to score early on, but the York United goalkeeper saved defender Lukas MacNaughton’s penalty kick at the 35-minute mark.

The home team still managed to take the lead though, when striker Terran Campbell headed home a cross from talisman Marco Bustos, who was the CPL’s player-of-the-week after returning from a long term injury.

But PFC let the match slip away from them, with striker Julian Ulbricht equalizing for York United after 56 minutes. PFC went down 2-1 late on, with substitute Lowell Wright swivelling and firing his shot into the top corner on the 81-minute mark to win the points for York United. It went from bad to worse for the home team when Gianni Dos Santos was shown a red card a minute later after stepping on a York United player.

PFC is still on top of the Canadian Premier League but could drop down to third depending on how results go. Hamilton-based Forge FC are one point behind Pacific but have three more games to play. Calgary-based Cavalry FC is also a point behind, but have two games left to play. Pacific FC has one regular season game left to secure the highest possible seeding.

For now, PFC turns away from CPL action to face Toronto FC of MLS in the Canadian Championship semifinals on Wednesday at BMO Field.

READ MORE: West Shore Wave: Pacific FC shoots past Cavalry FC to Canadian Championship semis