Match #18
VALOUR FC (6-5-6) vs. YORK UNITED FC (4-5-9)
When: Sunday, August 7th, 4 p.m. CT
Where: IG Field, Winnipeg, Mb.
How to watch: OneSoccer is broadcasting all CPL games live https://onesoccer.ca/
MATCH PREVIEW:
Two clubs fighting to remain in the Canadian Premier League playoff conversation meet in a Sunday matinee in Winnipeg. Valour is in fifth spot, six points behind Atlético Ottawa, who hold down the fourth and final playoff position. Ottawa, FYI, will be on the field earlier Sunday in a match with last-place FC Edmonton, so Valour will hope to close the game or at least keep pace with their Eastern rivals.
York United, meanwhile, is currently seventh with 17 points and coming off an impressive 4-2 victory over HFX Wanderers back on August 1st.
Valour is 4-1-2 in its last six, including last Wednesday’s impressive 2-nil win over Cavalry FC at IG Field, a match in which Moses Dyer scored both goals while goalkeeper Rayane Yesli earned his first CPL victory.
Valour is in a stretch that will see them play six of their next eight at home, the two road matches both trips to the East Coast to face the Wanderers.
—
THE GAFFER SAYS:
GM and head coach Phillip Dos Santos on York United FC:
“It’s a team that can be heavy, with a good physical presence in the back. We have to be very alert on set plays, as they’ve scored their fair amount of goals in those situations. They have speed down the wing and good references up top.
“They went through a spell where they couldn’t find a goal, but they’re coming off a game in which they just scored four. They’ll try to make it difficult for us and carry on with their momentum.”
—
VALOUR FC SPOTLIGHT:
#8 Diego Gutiérrez, MF: He brings a fire and a passion to the middle of the park and is gritty in defence and creative in moving forward. He’s racked up 1,092 minutes in 14 appearances for Valour this season and is a player whose pace is relentless from the opening to the final whistle.
—
CRITICAL NUMBER
1.29
Valour is conceding 1.29 goals per match this season, third lowest in the CPL behind only Forge FC (0.88) and Atlético Ottawa (1.12) heading into this weekend’s action.
—
All-Time: Valour FC vs. York United FC (previously York9 FC)
Overall: (win-draw-loss): 5-1-4
July 1, 2019, IG Field: Valour FC 1 York9 3
August 10, 2019, York Lions Stadium: York 9 0 Valour FC 2
September 15, 2019, York Lions Stadium: York9 2 Valour FC 4
October 16, 2019, IG Field: Valour FC 0 York9 4
August 22, 2020, Island Games, PEI: York9 0 Valour FC 0
July 7, 2021, Kickoff Event, IG Field: York United FC 2 Valour FC 1
July 18, 2021, Kickoff Event, IG Field: Valour FC 3 York United FC 0
September 26, 2021, York Lions Stadium: York United FC 2 Valour FC 1
May 15, 2022, IG Field: Valour FC 1 York United FC 0
June 26, 2022, York Lions Stadium: York United FC 1 Valour FC 3