Back-line players in soccer often have only an instant to make decisions on crossing balls. Kevin Ceceri of Pacific FC made one late in the game Monday night at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg and it proved fatal for PFC as the Argentine-import left-back dove feet first to a Valour FC cross only to re-direct the ball into his own net.
As a result, PFC’s hold on the fifth and final playoff berth in the Canadian Premier League became even more tenuous with the Tridents’ 1-0 loss to Valour FC in the 83rd minute.
“It’s tough to take. It was unlucky. It happens to every defender,” said PFC back-line stalwart Thomas Meilleur-Giguère.
“[Ceceri] tried to save us. He played a great game. It’s a tough moment for him. You even see crazy goals in the EPL,” noted Meilleur-Giguère, a Canada U-20 and U-23 player, who was selected for the CONCACAF 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifying tournament.
The Tridents are one point ahead of Valour FC and Vancouver FC and two points ahead of the HFX Wanderers of Halifax as the Island club missed an opportunity to put some air between themselves and the other aspirants at the lower end of the table.
“We still hold the lead in this race. They are chasing us. We are the ones in charge. It’s on us,” said Meilleur-Giguère, who has nine career goals in five seasons for PFC, despite being a defender.
PFC head coach James Merriman rued the missed opportunities by his offence before the own goal: “We had chances but didn’t take them. It was unfortunate to concede and lose that way in a close game. It was tough for Kevin [Ceceri]. He’s been good for us. I feel for him.”
The result was a six-point swing for Valour FC and kept alive the Manitoba club’s hopes of making the post-season.
“We could have been seven points out of a playoff spot and now it’s one point out,” said Valour FC head coach Phillip Dos Santos.
“It was a fight and we knew that it would be. There were a lot of emotions out there. It’s not about aesthetics or how pretty it looked. It’s about getting the result.”
PFC has made the playoffs for four consecutive seasons after missing the post-season only in the CPL’s inaugural season in 2019.
“This season we are doing it the hard way,” said Merriman.
“But it’s still in our control and within our reach.”
PFC returns to Starlight Stadium on Saturday at 2 p.m. to play third-place Cavalry FC of Calgary, which has clinched a playoff berth.
