A 36-minute hat-trick from Alejandro Diaz sealed the win for Pacific FC Wednesday night when they dispatched Atlético Ottawa 4-2.
Ottawa opened play with a shocking goal through Malcolm Shaw, who ripped the ball from Pacific FC midfielder Alessandro Hojabrpour to slot home his second goal of the season in the second minute.
He followed that up 16 minutes with a brilliant individual effort, out-muscling two defenders to find the back of the net.
Controversy loomed, though, as Ottawa midfielder Ben McKendry was sent off in the 27th minute when he connected with Matteo Polisi with a high boot. This saw a significant momentum swing, starting via a conceded penalty sending Diaz to the line. He converted and gave his side new life going into the second half, which started with back-to-back goals from Diaz – earning just the second hat trick in CPL history (Rodrigo Gattas, York9/York United July 27, 2019).
Terran Campbell added a fourth for good measure in the second half, completing a whirlwind 90+ minutes in Winnipeg and wrapped up both teams’ time at The Kickoff in Winnipeg.
Here are your sights and sounds for Wednesday night’s tilt.
GOAL 🔴⚪🔵
Malcolm Shaw gets @AtletiOttawa on the board early vs. @Pacificfccpl, stealing possession in midfield before unleashing a powerful strike past the 'keeper#CanPL | 🔴 https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/mYEK5YJgdq
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 22, 2021
GOAL 🔴⚪🔵@atletiOttawa are on the board AGAIN as Malcolm Shaw plucks out a looping pass by Tevin Shaw before applying the finish#CanPL | 🔴 https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/iN0skCWs31
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 22, 2021
RED CARD 🟥
Ben McKendry has been SENT OFF for @atletiOttawa after a high boot catches @Pacificfccpl's Matteo Polisi #CanPL | 🔴 https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/A52hYiFVJx
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 22, 2021
GOAL 🔱@Pacificfccpl cut the deficit in half vs. @atletiOttawa as Wero Diaz scores from the penalty spot
Miguel Mista sees a RED CARD 🟥 for this sequence, too#CanPL | 🔴 https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/prvRhFarrz
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 22, 2021
GOAL 🔱🔱@Pacificfccpl come back from 2-0 down as Wero Diaz scores off a corner kick swung in by Marc o Bustos
It's 2-2 vs. @atletiOttawa with 38 minutes to go 😱#CanPL | 🔴 https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/9ayBFyn0wk
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 22, 2021
GOAL 🔱🔱🔱
The COMEBACK is REAL 🤯@Pacificfccpl go up 3-2 over @atletiOttawa as Wero Diaz scores only the 2nd hat-trick in @CPLsoccer history! #CanPL | 🔴 https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/4Oq9btOAEj
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 22, 2021
GOAL 🔱🔱🔱🔱
Welcome back to the scoresheet, Terran Campbell 💪@Pacificfccpl go up 4-2 on @atletiOttawa with 15 minutes remaining in this one #CanPL | 🔴 https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/Lj3zCN9QJr
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 22, 2021
Wero Diaz
– Hat-trick ✅
– Game-winner ✅
– Comeback ✅
– 3 Points ✅
– Man of the Match ✅Our @Gatorade MOTM goes to the @Pacificfccpl striker, who notched just the 2nd hat-trick in #CanPL history 🎙 pic.twitter.com/Qyy4OLycWH
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 22, 2021