Pacific Sinks Out Of Playoff Contention With Loss To Forge

In just the second time in seven seasons, Pacific FC will not see any postseason action.

The Tridents succumbed to a hefty four-nil loss to Forge that proved to be a real lowlight for a year that has seen a team that typically asserts itself as a strong strong postseason contender languish in the bottom half for most of the season, with the seventh-place side officially becoming the second team eliminated from playoff contention.

The other is rival side Vancouver FC, who are also owned by SixFive Sports and Entertainment. They could soon be joined by Winnipeg’s Valour FC, who face York United in a do-or-die match today.

The offseason started with promise as title-winning former Tridents like Marco Bustos and Kadin Chung returned to the fold, whilst additions like Ronan Kratt, Aidan Daniels, and Yann Toualy looked like they would fit well into the mold of the side as well, whilst at the back the promising Aly Ndom had returned to fitness.

After starting the season with a win over Valour, however, the club would wait over a month to record its next victory, and would then wait two months for the one after that. Historically known for their potent and fluid counter-attacks, this season has seen the Tridents score less than any other team in the league, with a lack of killer instinct proving to be a season-long struggle.

Things weren’t helped with Ronan Kratt and Juan Quintana both receiving season-ending injuries just five matches in, with Bustos – once one of the most explosive players in the league – having not found the back of the net all season.

There was a clear lack of finishing up top, with newcomer Emanuel Montejano failing to break through while Heard and Zanatta combined for just four goals all season. The midseason arrival of striker Alejandro Diaz, while a tremendous reinforcement, came too late to save Pacific’s attacking momentum this season.

While it was great to see Aly Ndom fit for a campaign, the backline that was already missing Quintana also suffered the loss of starting defender Pedro Machado when he was allowed to leave midseason, with the club waiting till August to take a shot at three defensive replacements at once with mixed success.

Behind that defensive line, goalkeeper Sean Melvin has landed just one clean sheet in 16 matches, though he did ultimately oust Whitecaps loanee Max Anchor in earning starts to the extent that Max’s parent club recalled him from loan.

Averaging just under one goal per game whilst conceding two, the numbers haven’t added up in Pacific’s their favour. Following the club’s hefty yloss to Forge this weekend, Pacific’s goal differential sits at a staggering -26. That’s by far the worst in club history, well behind 2019 (-11) and 2024 (-4), with last season’s negative differential still seeing the club squeeze into playoffs on the final matchday.

James Merriman has described this season as a tough season for the club, and that extends beyond what has unfolded on the pitch. Just one season after ownership rebuked allegations that they were looking to sell the team, Pacific now officially finds itself listed for sale amidst some dirty laundry being aired by the City of Langford itself.

Suffice to say, the 2025 Canadian Premier League season will go down in a low moment in what has been a comparatively bright start for the young club: having won the playoff championship in 2021, they hadn’t missed a playoff berth in the time since until now. James Merriman has guided the team relatively well since taking over after that title win, though he’s undeniably in the hotseat as the club sees out a tough season and must position itself for a comeback season in ’26.

Header Image Photo Credit: Jojo Yanjiao Qian