Pacific FC advanced to the Canadian Championship quarterfinals after defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-3 on Thursday in Langford, British Columbia.
The ‘Caps came into the game as heavy favorites, having gone undefeated in their previous eight Major League Soccer games, but Pacific, the top club in the Canadian Premier League standings, repeatedly breached Vancouver’s defense.
Terran Campbell scored from the penalty spot for the home team in the eighth minute, and Manuel Aparicio added a goal in the 28th. Josh Heard scored in the 63rd minute of the second half, and substitute Alejandro Diaz extended the lead to 4-2 in the 76th.
The Whitecaps got goals from Ryan Gauld in the 14th and 66th minutes, and Cristian Dajome added another in the 98th.
Pacific outshot the ‘Caps 12-9, including an 8-6 advantage in shots on goal, with Callum Irving making three saves. For Vancouver, Maxime Crepeau made four saves.
Pacific will face Calvary FC in the quarter-finals of the CPL next month.
Pacific increased its lead in the 63rd minute after taking a 2-1 lead into the half.
Heard fought off defender Javain Brown along the sideline before going one-on-one with Andy Rose in the box and sending a low shot past Crepeau and into the corner of the net.
Gauld responded for Vancouver three minutes later, heading in Cristian Dajome’s cross to cut the deficit to 3-2.
In the 76th minute, a Pacific free-kick landed in heavy traffic. Diaz found the ball and used a right-footed swing to beat Crepeau, who had been knocked down in the net.
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