Irving’s Brilliant Shutout Saves Send Vancouver to TELUS QFs
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By Kaus Pandey
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Summary:
- Callum Irving made two key saves in a 4-2 penalty shootout win after a 1-1 draw in regulation.
- David Norman Jr. scored the deciding penalty to give Vancouver FC its first-ever Canadian Championship victory.
- Vancouver will next face Cavalry FC in the quarterfinals of the TELUS Canadian Championship.
Callum Irving was the hero of the night as Vancouver FC edged Pacific FC in a tense penalty shootout, moving on in the Telus Canadian Championship after a 1-1 draw in regulation time on Tuesday.
4-2 Victory for Vancouver
Callum Irving made two crucial saves during the shootout, denying Marco Bustos and Emanuel Montejano, to help seal Vancouver’s 4-2 victory on penalties.
The decisive goal came off the foot of David Norman Jr., who calmly converted the final spot kick. Alejandro Díaz, Nicolas Mezquida, and Aidan O’Connor also found the net for Vancouver, while Pacific’s Max Anchor managed to stop Vasco Fry.
On Pacific’s side, Aly Ndom and Sami Keshavarz converted their penalties, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Irving’s sharp form between the posts.
This marked a milestone win for Vancouver FC, its first in Canadian Championship play, after narrow 1-0 defeats in previous years to York United (2023) and Cavalry FC (2022).
They now face a familiar foe in Cavalry in the upcoming two-leg quarterfinal round.
Better Possession for Pacific
It could have gone another way. Kadin Chung nearly snatched the win for Pacific in stoppage time, but his shot missed the target by inches.
Earlier in the match, Vancouver drew first blood in the 34th minute. After Pacific’s Ndom gave the ball away, Fry picked it up and launched a pass into the box for Terran Campbell.
The latter was hauled down by defender Eric Lajeunesse. Díaz stepped up and converted the resulting penalty.
Vancouver had the edge in shots during the first half, outshooting Pacific 4-2, though both sides had just one shot on target. Pacific, however, enjoyed more of the ball, holding 57% possession.
Ndom redeemed his earlier mistake in the 50th minute, bending a low free kick through a gap in the wall to beat Irving and level the score.
One bright spot for Pacific was the debut of 17-year-old Mattias Vales, a rising talent from the VI Wave Program and The Football Academy at Shawnigan Lake. He entered the match at halftime, having signed his second developmental contract in March.
Elsewhere in the competition, York United thrashed FC Laval 5-0 earlier on Tuesday. Wednesday will feature more cup action, with Halifax Wanderers visiting Forge and TSS Rovers taking on Valour FC.
The winner of the Canadian Championship will lift the Voyageurs Cup, earn $50,000, and secure a coveted spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
