Goals from Stephen Hoyle and Dylan Carreiro lifted Valour to a 2-1 win over Pacific, a victory in their first match in club history on Wednesday at Westhills Stadium.
The match was an all-out, end-to-end affair with 33 shots total, 19 for Pacific, 14 for Valour, with the Winnipeg side making the best of their opportunities after the full-time whistle sounded.
Valour’s Hoyle etched his name in his club’s blank history books in the 23rd minute, lacing home Valour’s first goal in club history, straight down the middle of the net, after a Pacific FC goalkeeper Mark Villiage was drawn away from the six-yard box. The striker had a productive night at Westhills Stadium, firing four shots and registering a key pass on route to winning man of the match honours.
Jose Hernandez equalized for Pacific in the 44th minute with a lifted header past Tyson Farago, sending the nearby supporters section into a frenzy.Marcus Haber nearly marked a good first half performance with a goal … twice, hitting the near post with a header and right-footed strike just at the end of halftime.
The second half saw Pacific draw close to taking the lead from free kicks. Both Ben Fisk and Terran Campbell fizzed curling efforts just past the post.
Winnipeg native Carreiro, who came on as a second-half substitute, gave his hometown club the victory in the 78th minute with a powerful, deflected strike from outside the box that looped over PFC goalkeeper Mark Village.
Valour FC will now switch focus to Investors Group Field and their inaugural home match, against FC Edmonton, on Saturday (5:00 p.m. CT/6:00 p.m. ET, OneSoccer). Pacific will have the weekend off before heading to Hamilton to take on Forge FC on May 8 (7:00 p.m. ET, OneSoccer).
Lake Side Buoys are always on hand to support their team. Pacific FC Lose to Valour FC 2-1 at Westhill. Photo by Gord Rufh ISN/PFC
