September 14, 2019 CPL--PREVIEW: York9 FC vs. Valour FC - Match #75 (from canpl.ca website)
PREVIEW: York9 FC vs. Valour FC – Match #75 2019-09-14 by CanPL.ca Staff Canadian Premier League — Match #75 York9 FC vs. Valour FC September 15, 2019 — York Lions Stadium (3:30 p.m. ET) Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca Are things turning around for York9 FC? They’ll have a chance to try and build up some form this weekend as Valour FC visits York Lions Stadium for the second time in the Fall season. The Nine Stripes beat Pacific FC 2-0 at Westhills Stadium on Wednesday, bouncing back swiftly from a toothless 905 Derby loss to Forge FC last weekend. York has fallen off the pace in the CPL’s Fall competition, now 10 points back of the top, so they have plenty to prove in the run-in to the season’s conclusion. Jimmy Brennan’s side has shown flashes of brilliance over the summer, but the next month will be about capturing that spark more consistently. Valour, meanwhile, seems to be floundering at the moment, licking their wounds after convincing losses to the league’s top two sides in Cavalry FC and Forge FC. With two more games played than last-place HFX Wanderers FC, Valour sits four points out of the basement (and indeed just two points out of third). They desperately need to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. Fortunately, York Lions Stadium is a venue that served them well last time they needed to turn things around. Valour will stay on the road once this one wraps up, as their next Fall season stop will be Nova Scotia. They’ll take on HFX Wanderers FC next Saturday, Sept. 21 at Wanderers Grounds (1:00 p.m. ET, 12:00 p.m. AT, on OneSoccer). Right after that clash, York9 will wrap up the Saturday slate with a visit to FC Edmonton (3:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. MT, on OneSoccer). KEYS TO THE MATCH A spot of revenge: Part of the reason for York9’s slide out of Fall title contention was back-to-back home losses in mid-August. The first of those was a frustrating defeat to Valour, coming in the aftermath of the Nine Stripes’ explosive 6-2 win over HFX Wanderers. York9 mustered 21 shots, but no goals as they fell to an early Michele Paolucci marker and a stoppage-time empty-netter with goalkeeper Nathan Ingham pushing forward. Jimmy Brennan’s side were none to pleased to lose at home to a team riding an 11-game winless streak. They’d love to avenge that loss on Sunday. Focus on positives: The last two games were rough for Valour, but they weren’t without bright spots. In Thursday’s loss to Forge, especially, the front three was actually quite lively, as they generated eight shots in the second half. Tyler Attardo’s 70th-minute goal was a textbook example of what Valour can do offensively, as they moved the ball with incredible pace and precision. Coach Rob Gale pointed out the silver linings after the match, in a game where his side did well not to capitulate. Valour has the tools, especially in attack; they can do serious damage when they avoid individual errors and shore up the defending. Adjei’s rising stock: York9 striker Simon Adjei has taken the brunt of a lot of criticism this year, as he’s struggled to produce despite getting plenty of opportunities at the top of the lineup. On Thursday, he earned himself some credit at last by potting a pair of goals (the second of which was a moment of pure individual skill). It’ll take a few more performances like that before Adjei erases the memories of his sub-par finishing earlier in the season, but York9 has been crying out for someone to start performing in the number nine role all year. The Nine Stripes will be a force to be reckoned with if Adjei has indeed turned a corner. PROJECTED LINEUPS York9 FC: Nathan Ingham; Daniel Gogarty, Justin Springer, Luca Gasparotto, Morey Doner; Joe Di Chiara; Kyle Porter, Manuel Aparicio, Rodrigo Gattas; Simon Adjei, Ryan Telfer Valour FC: Mathias Janssens; Diego Gutierrez, Yohan Le Bourhis, Jordan Murrell, Raphael Ohin; Raphael Garcia, Louis Béland-Goyette, Jose Galan; Dylan Carreiro, Michele Paolucci, Marco Bustos HEAD TO HEAD July 1 – Valour FC 1-3 York9 FC August 10 – York9 FC 0-2 Valour FC STATS LEADERS Michael Petrasso – 6 goals (Valour FC) Simon Adjei, Ryan Telfer & Rodrigo Gattas – 5 goals (York9 FC) INJURIES Roger Thompson (York9 FC) – Doubtful Cyrus Rollocks (York9 FC) – Doubtful Diyaeddine Abzi (York9 FC) – Doubtful Josip Golubar (Valour FC) – Out (ACL) Tyson Farago (Valour FC) – Out Martin Arguinarena (Valour FC) – Doubtful Michael Petrasso (Valour FC) – Questionable INTERNATIONAL DUTY None SUSPENSIONS Adam Mitter (Valour FC) ACCUMULATION (Players are suspended for one match 14 days after accumulating a 4th Yellow Card) Raphael Ohin (Valour FC) – 7 Jose Galan (Valour FC) – 3 Diego Gutierrez (Valour FC) – 3 Luca Gasparotto (York9 FC) – 3 Steven Furlano (York9 FC) – 3 REFEREES Referee: Marie-Soleil Beaudoin ARs: Chantal Boudreau & Stephanie Fortin 4th Official: Yusri Rudolf
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