Match #18
VALOUR FC (5-2-10) vs. YORK UNITED FC (8-4-5)
When: Sunday, August 11th, 7 p.m. CDT
Where: Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, Mb.
Tickets: Available here
Match theme: Pups at the Pitch Night. Click here for details.
How to watch: OneSoccer is broadcasting all Canadian Premier League games live https://onesoccer.ca/
MATCH PREVIEW:
Valour FC is playing its best football of 2024 right now with two wins and a draw in its last three matches, including last weekend’s 2-1 decision over Forge FC. That result pulled the club to within three points of the fifth and final playoff spot with 11 matches to go — eight of them to be played at Princess Auto Stadium.
This is the second of a four-match home stand for Valour with games coming up against HFX Wanderers (August 17th) and Vancouver FC (August 25th) and in York United they’ll be meeting a squad which has rocketed into second spot in the CPL, just one point behind first place Atlético Ottawa.
In the win over Forge forward Jordi Swibel scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season while Jordan Faria set up Diogo Ressurreicao for the match winner. Valour goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi earned the win in goal and his three clean sheets is tied for second in the Canadian Premier League. Four Valour players were named to the CPL Team of the Week after that performance, including Viscosi, Swibel, Faria and centre back Frankie Facchineri
The latest on the growing confidence in the Valour room:
THE OTHER GUYS:
3 Facts about York United FC:
- York is unbeaten in its last five — since a 1-nil loss to Valour in Winnipeg back on June 27th — win wins over Ottawa, HFX and Cavalry and a draw with Vancouver. Earlier this week York boss Benjamin Mora was named the CPL Manager of the Month for July.
- York forward Brian Wright continues to lead the CPL in goals with nine while Mo Babouli has five and former Valour striker Austin Ricci has three goals.
- York’s goal conversion rate of 21.95% (goals divided by shots) leads the CPL. Ottawa is second at 17.14% while Valour is fifth at 15.75%.
VALOUR FC SPOTLIGHT:
#17, Jordan Faria, midfielder: Valour’s offence has come from a variety of sources and areas on the pitch and Faria has proven to be a difference maker with his speed and technical ability. That was on full display in the win over Forge, an effort that earned him One Soccer Performance of the Match honours.
PERFORMANCE OF THE MATCH ⭐️
Presented by @GatoradeHear from @ValourFootball‘s Jordan Faria after his team picked up a crucial 2-1 win over Forge to climb within 3 points of the 5th and final CPL playoff spot#CanPL pic.twitter.com/FO8W6Rc34h
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) August 4, 2024
CRITICAL NUMBER
3
Valour has surrendered three goals in its last three matches, cutting down significantly the chances against. The club had struggled periodically during the first half of the season and still sports a 1.71 goals-conceded-per-match total, second worst in the CPL to Vancouver’s 1.76. Still, if they are to continue to make their run to a playoff spot this is a number that must continue to shrink.
All-Time: Valour FC vs. York United FC
Overall: (win-draw-loss): 9-2-7
Last meeting: June 27, 2024, Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg — Valour FC 1 York United FC 0