MATCH #10
VALOUR FC (2-1-6) vs. PACIFIC FC (3-4-2)
When: Friday, June 14th, 7 p.m. CDT
Where: Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, Mb.
How to watch: OneSoccer is broadcasting all Canadian Premier League games live https://onesoccer.ca/
Tickets: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/tickets/
MATCH PREVIEW:
Valour will attempt to gain back some momentum after Sunday’s 2-nil loss to Atlético Ottawa in which they played the league’s top team even for close to an hour before an iffy penalty led to Atléti’s first goal and then a counter-attack goal in extra time that sealed the victory. That result halted what had been a three-match unbeaten run with two wins and a draw.
This is the final match of a run of three at home and, after facing Forge FC in Hamilton next Sunday, Valour will be back at Princess Auto Stadium for contests against York United on June 27th and July 7th vs. Cavalry FC.
Valour has allowed just four goals in its last four matches with a consistent back line of centre backs Tass Mourdoukoutas, Haris Chantzopoulos and fullbacks Themi Antonoglou and Roberto Alarćon, but still ranks last in the CPL in goals conceded with 17.
THE OTHER GUYS:
3 Facts about Pacific FC
-Pacific is winless in five matches with three draws and two losses and just three goals scored over that span. Their most recent outing was a nil-nil draw with in Halifax against the Wanderers in the first of three straight road matches. After this one with Valour they are in Toronto next Wednesday to face York United.
-Goalkeeper Emil Gazdov — a 6-5 20-year-old from Vancouver — leads the CPL in clean sheets with five. Ayman Sellouf leads the squad in goals with two. Suspensions, injuries and national team call-ups have hampered the side’s ability to find any consistency in its lineup.
-All CPL teams are required to play U-21 players a minimum of 2,000 minutes this season. Pacific is already well on its way to that threshold with 1,720 U-21 minutes, with Valour second in the league at 1,224.
VALOUR FC SPOTLIGHT:
#20: Diogo Ressureicao, midfielder: Valour has seen some flashes of creativity from the young Portugese midfielder and his comfort level in their attack appears to be growing with every match. He signed his first pro contract with 1° Dezembro in 2018 and has also played with FC Porto B and Vitória de Guimaraes B before coming to Canada.
CRITICAL NUMBER
.78
Pacific FC has just seven goals in nine matches this season for a goals-per-game average of .78, ranking second last in the CPL to the Wanderers at .75. Valour, FYI, is at .89. Pacific has played to two scoreless draws this season and were blanked 1-nil by Atlético Ottawa.
All-Time: Valour FC vs. Pacific FC
Overall: (win-draw-loss): 2-3-15
Last meeting: April 19, 2024, at Starlight Stadium in Victoria, B.C. — Pacific FC 2 Valour FC 0