Something about a September Saturday in Victoria made the timing just right for soccer, and 4,390 fans agreed as Pacific FC and Vancouver FC battled to a 1-1 draw at Royal Athletic Park.

The downtown venue was packed, the sun was out, and the game delivered enough drama to send people home wanting more.

The Canadian Premier League (CPL) table offered little in terms of playoff stakes.

Pacific entered the afternoon second from the bottom, 12 points off the final playoff spot with five games to go. Vancouver FC, sitting last, had already been eliminated from playoff contention.

Still, when the two coastal rivals meet, it is never without a sense of occasion.

Vancouver struck first just before halftime. Hugo Mbongue stepped to the spot and calmly slotted a penalty past Pacific goalkeeper

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