Atletico Ottawa topped the table while Pacific FC finished fourth. But PFC has been through the crucible of elimination soccer while Atletico Ottawa has not. The Tridents believe that will hold them in good stead in their two-legged Canadian Premier League playoff semifinal series, which begins Saturday at 4 p.m. at Starlight Stadium, before swinging into the nation’s capital Oct. 23 at TD Place Stadium.
“We gained a lot of experience in the CONCACAF League tournament and we will take that into the playoffs,” said PFC head coach James Merriman.
The Tridents won the CPL playoff crown last season, which qualified them for the CONCACAF League this season. PFC defeated Jamaican Premier League-champion Waterhouse FC in the two-legged opening round before losing to CS Herediano on penalty kicks in the Round of 16 two-legged set against a squad that will provide the Costa Rica national team with six players next month in World Cup Qatar 2022.
Atletico Ottawa (13-5-10 in wins-losses-draws for 49 points] is the surprise of the season but has never made the CPL playoffs before this and so has never been involved in elimination games in its three seasons.
“You learn in two-legged series that you focus on one game, one half, at a time,” said Merriman.
“We went into some hostile settings [in Jamaica and Costa Rica] but our home games in those CONCACAF legs were big nights for us at Starlight Stadium with full crowds. And we’re expecting a full crowd Saturday for the playoff game. We’re at home, with great supporters, and want to take advantage by starting on the front foot.”
It will be the only playoff game at Starlight Stadium. As the fourth seed, PFC (13-8-7 for 46 points) has no chance of hosting the one-game CPL final. It will be held Oct. 29 or Oct. 30, depending on the host team, which will be the highest remaining seed.
Forge FC of Hamilton, Ont., and Cavalry FC of Calgary finished tied for second place in the regular season on 47 points each with Forge FC earning the second seed on tie-breakers. Their two-legged playoff series opens Saturday on ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows in Calgary and concludes Oct. 23 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.
Unlike in CONCACAF two-legged play, away goals aren’t weighted and don’t count for more.
“That doesn’t change our philosophy,” said Merriman.
“We always want to be on the front foot and dynamic, home or away.”
PFC won the season series against Atletico Ottawa, owned by La Liga giant Atletico Madrid, 2-1-1.
“This is a good match-up for us. All four games this season were competitive,” said Merriman.
CORNER KICKS: PFC attacking-midfielder Gianni dos Santos is listed as certain to dress Saturday while forward Djenairo Daniels is day-to-day … Former PFC striker Alejandro Diaz won the CPL Golden Boot with 13 goals in 18 league games, despite missing the final 10 games of the season after the former Mexico U-20 and U-23 international was sent to Sogndal of the Norwegian First Division on Aug. 10 for the second-highest transfer fee in CPL history, which Transfermarkt listed as $165,000 US. Diaz has continued his season spree with five goals in eight games for Sogndal. Diaz outpaced rising York United star Osaze De Rosario, 21-year-old son of second all-time leading Canada scorer Dwayane De Rosario, who placed second in the CPL Golden Boot race with 12 goals.
