MATCH #5| VALOUR FC (1-1-2) vs FC EDMONTON (0-1-3)
When: Saturday, August 29, 2020, 11 a.m. CDT
Where: UPEI Alumni Field, Charlottetown, PEI
How to watch: OneSoccer is broadcasting all CPL games live https://onesoccer.ca/
MATCH PREVIEW
It’s too early to bill it as a ‘must-win’, but Valour FC’s margin for error is thinning at the Island Games. The squad began the week in third place in the standings – the top four advance from the First Stage – but Tuesday’s loss to Pacific FC, followed by wins by York9, HFX Wanderers and Atlético Ottawa have dropped them to seventh place.
The only team behind them is Saturday’s opponent – FC Edmonton.
All that said, because the standings are so tight a victory against Edmonton would help Valour FC leapfrog, temporarily at least, some of the teams currently ahead of them.
Valour FC has surrendered just four goals through the tournament so far, lowest among all CPL teams. Their four goals scored, meanwhile, all came in a 4-nil win over Ottawa in a game dominated by Valour FC before they banged home all four markers with Atlético down a man.
3 TO WATCH
#5 Julian Dunn, D: Has played every minute of every match so far for Valour FC at the Island Games. But his last match wasn’t his best and the loanee from Toronto FC II figures to bounce back with an extra day’s rest between the loss to Pacific and Saturday’s contest with Edmonton.
#1 James Pantemis, GK: Valour’s last line of defence is tied for the tournament lead with two clean sheets and his 13 saves is second to Ottawa’s Ignacio Zabal Almazan.
#9 Austin Ricci, F: Valour needs some finish around the net and Ricci’s pace and relentlessness makes him a real candidate to find the back of the net.
Valour FC vs. FC Edmonton All-Time
Overall: (win-draw-loss): 3-1-1
May 4, 2019: Valour FC 1 FC Edmonton 2, IG Field
June 2, 2019: FC Edmonton 0 Valour FC 1, Clarke Field
July 17, 2019: FC Edmonton 0 Valour FC 0, Clarke Field
August 19, 2019: Valour FC 3 FC Edmonton 1 , IG Field
October 5, 2019: Valour FC 3 FC Edmonton 1, IG Field
Valour FC Injury Report
Injured: D Arnold Bouka Moutou, MF/D Brett Levis, D Federico Pena, D Raph Garcia, D Chakib Hocine.
Suspended: none
The ‘Island Games’ format
- The Island Games First Stage will see each of the eight clubs play each other, for seven guaranteed matches.
- The Top 4 clubs from the first stage will then advance to the Group Stage and play each other again, for three more matches.
- The Top 2 teams will then compete in a single-match final to be crowned the 2020 Canadian Premier League Champion.
Valour FC Island Games matches/results (times subject to change)
First stage results
Match 1: Saturday, August 16: Valour FC 0 Cavalry FC 2
Match 2: Wednesday, August 19: Atletico Ottawa 0 Valour FC 4
Match 3: Saturday, August 22: York9 0 Valour FC 0
Match 4: Tuesday, August 25 Pacific FC 2 Valour FC 0
Upcoming:
Match 5: Saturday, August 29, 11 a.m. CDT; Valour FC vs. FC Edmonton
Match 6: Wednesday, September 2, noon, CDT; Valour FC vs. HFX Wanderers
Match 7: Saturday, September 5, 11 a.m. CDT, Forge FC vs. Valour FC