Kiwi striker Moses Dyer of Pacific FC says he finds the Island: “Exactly like New Zealand.”
Perhaps it was that familiarity that led to his dynamic breakout game last weekend in the 3-0 victory over the HFX Wanderers that showed why he has earned 11 caps for the New Zealand national team after representing the nation in the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and in U-23. Dyer attacked like a spinning top against HFX with a goal, hit post and drawing a penalty that led to a Dario Zanatta goal from the spot.
“I like to score goals and annoy defenders,” said Dyer.
He has done that five times this season, four goals with Vancouver FC, and the one with PFC since coming across the strait in a loan agreement to the end of the season. The deal included striker Ayman Sellouf going from PFC to Vancouver FC in hopes of both rewards re-energizing their personal seasons and the seasons of their new teams.
“I feel very good with PFC and have had a lot of [scoring chances],” said Dyer, who has 24 career CPL goals, including his three seasons in Winnipeg with Valour FC.
Those chances have been much needed by the Tridents, whose three goals against HFX last Saturday were their first after a five-game scoreless drought stretching to Aug. 2, as Pacific FC won for the first time in 10 games across all competitions.
As the schedule, and fate, would have it, Dyer and Sellouf face their former clubs today at 2 p.m. at Starlight Stadium in the Canadian Premier League’s B.C. derby.
“This is the first time I’ve changed teams mid-season and it’s exciting to play your old team,” said Dyer.
“But this is just another game against a team vying for a playoff spot and we’ve got to beat them.”
VFC holds the fifth and final playoff berth, three points ahead of PFC, but with the Tridents holding a game in hand with seven remaining.
After losing the first two games against their cross-strait rivals upon entering the league last year, the Eagles have spun five consecutive victories against the Tridents, including winning all three games this season.
“We’ve been frustrated with our results against Vancouver FC and it’s been because of our own doing and own mistakes. We need to change the story,” said PFC head coach James Merriman.
“It’s a must-win. We’ve adopted the mentality that every game now is a playoff game for us.”
The trio of PFC players missing last week with national-team duty during the FIFA international window have returned and are available for today. All three started in their CONCACAF Nations League games, midfielder Marco Dominguez for Guatemala and forward Reon Moore and midfielder Steffen Yeates for Trinidad and Tobago.
CORNER KICKS: Midfielder Jay Herdman, who represented New Zealand at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has been signed on loan by Calgary’s Cavalry FC from the MLS Vancouver Whitecaps. The 20-year-old is the son of MLS Toronto FC and 2022 Canada World Cup head coach John Herdman.
