MATCH #19

YORK UNITED FC (6-8-5) vs. VALOUR  FC (7-2-9)

When: Sunday, September 26, 1 p.m. CDT

Where: York Lions Stadium, Toronto, Ont.

How to watch: OneSoccer is broadcasting all CPL games live https://onesoccer.ca/

MATCH PREVIEW:

Valour begins a new era Sunday with a new gaffer on the sidelines in Phillip Dos Santos, who replaced Rob Gale this week as the second GM and head coach in franchise history. That alone would make this match compelling, but couple that with the fact Valour’s opponent – York United – is one of the squads ahead of them in the standings and currently holding the last playoff spot and the plot thickens that much more. York has three more points, although Valour does have a game in hand and 10 left to play. HFX Wanderers also leap-frogged Valour with a 1-0 win over FC Edmonton on Saturday, giving them 25 points.

The club will have had just one full training day under Dos Santos before travelling to Toronto on Saturday and will take to the pitch minus leading scorer Austin Ricci, who is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Valour is just 1-1-9 in its last 11, but coming off a 1-1 draw against Cavalry FC last weekend in one of the club’s most spirited efforts of late.

York United fell 4-0 to Toronto FC in their Canadian Championship quarterfinal last Wednesday, but has been solid in league play of late with two wins and three draws in its last five matches.

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3 VALOUR FC PLAYERS TO WATCH

#14 Stefan Cebara, D: A steady, steady player who really stepped up his game and his leadership after the early-season loss of Andrew Jean-Baptiste. He was missed when he was out of the lineup, and brings a calming influence to the back row.

#2 Rodrigo Reyes, D: Reyes, along with goalkeeper Matt Silva, was named to the Gatorade CPL team of the week for his work from September 13-20. The young defender, on loan from Chivas Guadalajara, has found his comfort zone in Valour’s back line.

#8 Keven Aleman, FW: He scored a dandy in the 71^st minute of the draw with Cavalry last weekend and has the speed and creativity in the middle of the park that can give defenders fits.

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INJURED

Valour has been without dominant centre back Andrew Jean-Baptiste for most of the season after he suffered a torn ACL in the Kickoff bubble at the start of the season. Forward and leading scorer Austin Ricci is also unavailable due to a knee injury suffered in the Canadian Championship quarterfinal loss to Forge FC.

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All-time Valour FC vs. York United FC/York9

Overall: (win-draw-loss): 3-1-3

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, IG Field: York United FC 2 Valour FC 1

July 18, 2021, IG Field: Valour FC 3 York United FC 0

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TO DATE

Match 1: Sunday, June 27 — Forge FC 0 Valour FC 2

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/we-know-we-have-a-strong-supporting-cast-it-didnt-really-matter-about-the-outside-noise-we-had-a-gameplan-and-it-worked-well-valour-fc-2-forge-fc-0

Match 2: Wednesday, June 30 – Valour FC 2 HFX Wanderers FC 0

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/10553

Match 3: Saturday, July 3 – Valour FC 2 Atlético Ottawa 0

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/it-was-very-emotional-its-special-valour-fc-2-atletico-ottawa-0

Match 4: Wednesday, July 7 — York United FC 2 Valour FC 1

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/like-ive-said-many-times-before-its-a-reward-for-the-manitoba-people-valour-fc-1-york-united-fc-2

Match 5: Sunday, July 11 – Valour FC 1 Forge FC 0

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/we-know-player-for-player-ill-take-us-against-anyone-in-the-league-and-i-think-were-showing-that-after-five-games-so-far-valour-fc-1-forge-fc-0

Match 6: Thursday, July 15 — Atlético Ottawa 0 Valour FC 1

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/10764

Match 7: Sunday, July 18  — Valour FC 3 York United FC 0

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/weve-got-a-room-full-of-leaders-it-doesnt-matter-who-takes-the-arm-band-valour-fc-3-york-united-0

Match 8: Saturday, July 24 — HFX Wanderers 1 Valour FC 0

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/hes-a-top-class-goalie-hes-been-the-best-goalkeeper-in-the-league-valour-fc-0-hfx-wanderers-fc-1

Match 9: Saturday, July 31 – FC Edmonton 3 Valour FC 1

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/10901

Match 10: Wednesday, August 4 – Pacific FC 2 Valour FC 1

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/10938

Match 11: Sunday, August 8 – Cavalry FC 1 Valour FC 0

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/10956

Match 12: Thursday, August 12 – FC Edmonton 0 Valour FC 0

Recap:  https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/it-takes-the-right-type-of-people-in-the-locker-room-to-go-out-and-get-road-performances-valour-fc-0-fc-edmonton-0

Match 13: Monday, August 16 – Valour FC 0 Pacific FC 2

https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/weve-got-to-find-ourselves-out-of-it-the-boys-are-working-very-hard-in-the-very-limited-training-sessions-that-we-have-valour-fc-0-pacific-fc-2

Canadian Championship: Saturday, August 21 – Atlético Ottawa 2 Valour FC 3

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/match-analysis-atletico-ottawa-2-3-valour-fc-canadian-championship

Match 14: Tuesday, August 24 – Valour FC 3 FC Edmonton 0

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/we-felt-confident-going-into-ottawa-and-we-continued-where-we-left-off-on-the-front-foot-valour-3-fc-edmonton-0

Match 15: Sunday, August 29 – Pacific FC 3 Valour FC 2

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/match-analysis-pacific-fc-3-2-valour-fc

Match 16: Saturday, September 4 – Valour FC 0 Cavalry FC 1

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/match-analysis-valour-fc-0-1-cavalry-fc

Match 17: Tuesday, September 7 – Valour FC 0 FC Edmonton 3

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/match-recap-valour-fc-0-fc-edmonton-3

Canadian Championship Quarterfinal: Wednesday, September 15 – Forge FC 2 Valour FC 1

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/we-live-and-we-learn-and-we-move-on-to-the-league-play-and-hopefully-bring-that-second-half-confidence-into-our-next-league-game

Match 18: Saturday, September 18 – Valour FC 1 Cavalry FC 1

Recap: https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/match-analysis-valour-fc-1-1-cavalry-fc