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Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League
‘He Gives Us Confidence’: Diaz Becomes CPL’s All-Time Top Goalscorer
By The third time was the charm for Alejandro Diaz: in his third appearance following his return to purple, the Pacific forward procured a brace en route to a thrilling 3-2 derby win over Vancouver FC – the very side who recently loaned him out to the Island.
Diaz, who had left Pacific as a hero half a season after securing a national championship in 2021 and tallying an astounding 31 goals in 62 appearances, spent a spell in Norway before his European side loaned him out to Vancouver. Following the expiry of his contract in Norway, Vancouver FC signed Diaz to a contract and, in a surprise move, immediately loaned him out to rival side Pacific.
Just like the Moses Dyer and Ayman Sellouf player swap between the two last season, it looks like Pacific is be the real winner of the move. Particularly, you know, given that the Tridents didn’t lose anything to bring Diaz in.
This weekend’s brace from Alejandro Diaz didn’t just set him off the mark on chapter two with Pacific: it pushed the Mexican striker to pole position in the CPL’s all-time goalscoring charts, with Diaz’s own tally now at 41. That’s one ahead of his former Vancouver FC squadmate Terran Campbell, and three ahead of Atletico Ottawa attacker Samuel Salter.
“It’s really good, I’m really happy and excited about knowing this record, but it’s always better winning with the team,” said Diaz postgame, downplaying his own milestone moment in favour of focusing on the team win.
“That’s really special for us, especially that we were struggling a little bit to find that rhythm of winning games, and it’s good that we got the first two wins in a row. That’s really important for the team going forward, so we can build up that confidence and start winning more games so we can be closer to the playoff spot.”
Diaz says he’s been really happy to come back to Vancouver Isle, where he says ‘it all started’:
“Here, Pacific gave me the opportunity to play, to show me, to score goals, and then I got the move to Norway to reach that goal that I had that is playing in Europe. It’s really good, I’m really happy to be back and playing with all the faces I already knew, that’s really good, and also knowing the new faces on the team that I didn’t know before. It’s great. It’s been really easy for me to come back to the team and be part of it.”
Diaz’s fortieth goal came from a spot kick against Callum Irving, a former teammate – in two different club spells, no less – who he describes as a top goalkeeper in the league and someone he’s trained spot kicks with aplenty. His second goal of the match came with a wonderful one-touch finish.
Both clubs Diaz has suited up for this season have had their fair share of struggles this year: Vancouver sacked Afshin Ghotbi last month and are bottom of the table, whilst Pacific have spent most of the season trying to restore their own goalscoring touch. The derby win saw club captain Josh Heard find the net for the first time this year, while Dario Zanatta – who had a hot spell at the tail end of last season – tallied two assists, his first goal contributions since early May.
“It’s always hard when you’re not playing or not scoring, but it shows the resilience from everyone and the quality that everyone has,” reflects Diaz. “It’s always like that in football, that happens a lot. A striker can not score for fifteen games, and once he scores the first goal it’s way easier. It’s the same for everyone.”
Given Diaz’s humble sidestepping of the individual spotlight, it’s no real surprise to see that he downplayed his own particular place in Canadian Premier League history, too. The league’s current all-time top goalscorer, it would seem, would rather shift focus onto Pacific’s hunt to restore a playoff position.
“If we keep going like that, I think we have a lot of chance to fight for playoffs and put pressure on the teams above us. It’s just going day-by-day and trying to work as hard as we can, and also showing on games, being more solid, and trying to score more goals.”
The win, Pacific’s second in a row, puts the team within seven points of the last playoff spot. With ten games to go, there’s still ample road in front to make a push. Whether Diaz can keep hold of the all-time record remains to be seen, but he isn’t too worried about such an accolade.
“It’s always good to be in those [individual] positions, fighting for those milestones, but honestly I just focus on doing my best in every training and every game, and if that comes and I’m in those positions, that’s perfect, but if I’m not, I don’t really… it’s not like I don’t care, I just don’t think all the time about those milestones,” admits Diaz.
“If that comes, that’s perfect, if it doesn’t come, it doesn’t matter.” I just keep going and trying to win in the team, that’s what is most important. I’m really happy to be in those positions, so hopefully I can still be there and try to fight for those positions.”
Pacific head coach James Merriman was the first to admit that Diaz’s departure midway through the ’22 season left big shoes to fill. The club has made playoffs each season, but has lacked the proverbial sprinkle of magic – or finishing consistency – that a veteran like Diaz provides.
“He’s here where he needs to be,” says Merriman. “He gives us confidence stepping up to take a penalty, he’s in the right space when we drive crosses in the box, and those goals…goals change games, so that’s going to give us a ton of confidence, and for him as well.”
Header Image Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League
