November 21, 2021...Preview: Excitement, Energy and Controlled Emotion The Recipe for Playoff Success
(from York United website)

  
PREVIEW: EXCITEMENT, ENERGY AND CONTROLLED EMOTION THE RECIPE FOR PLAYOFF SUCCESS   
Sunday's huge clash is a seventh meeting with Forge FC this term.

According to the Greek philosopher Pythagoras, three is a lucky number and so York United will 
draw inspiration from that on Sunday and try to pull the victory rag from under the feet 
of defending CPL champions Forge FC in the playoff semi-final of the 2021 championship. 

The showdown - set for Tim Hortons Field - will be the third instalment of the 905 Derby this 
month and a seventh overall this year. It is also a clash between first and fourth 
in the regular season standings.

The Nine Stripes go into the game as underdogs after losing their last two games, both on home 
soil and both to the side from Hamilton. 

Head Coach Jimmy Brennan does have a clean bill of health and is set to name a strong starting 
line-up. Winger Michael Petrasso has stepped up his recovery and should be available 
for selection after sitting out the last four matches with a quad injury picked up at Atletico Ottawa 
late last month. Elsewhere, safest pair of hands Nathan Ingham returns between the sticks after 
he was rested for last Tuesday's fixture. However, midfielder Cedric Toussaint, who missed that 
game due to suspension, remains unavailable.

But, there remains an immensely solid spine to the team and key performers like Noah Verhoeven, 
Isaiah Johnston, Diyaeddine Abzi, Chrisnovic N'sa, Dominick Zator, Jordan Wilson and Max Ferrari 
are ready for the occasion. 

According to Brennan, his group have pressed the reset button and are raring to give their best shot 
for another tantalizing derby clash. 

"I think this week was really us focusing on what we need to improve on, working on the tactics, 
making sure that we had a professional attitude and that the commitment levels were right. And the 
guys were at it: it was intense and there was good energy about them," The Gaffer said at Friday's 
pre-match conference. 

"You can see that the players are excited and like we always say, we've got to play with controlled 
emotions and not let the occasion get the better of us and make sure that we're mentally right 
for this match." 

York United have proven they have the know-how to upset opponents and have won twice in Forge's 
backyard (1-0 and 2-0 respectively) already this season. There were also some impeccable displays 
on the road against notable opposition: despite a strange defeat in Calgary, they bossed proceedings 
from start to finish and then there was the huge come-from-behind 2-1 success at Starlight Stadium 
against Pacific FC. 

"I think that when you travel there's less pressure on you and for some reason we've flourished away 
from home and we played with an awful lot of energy and we made it difficult for teams and we picked 
up the results," Brennan continued.

"I think on the road we've been better and we're on the road again this weekend. So we'll know what's 
expected at Tim Hortons Field. We know it's going to be a difficult match but we've got a game plan. 
We're going to stick to it and if it goes right, then we'll get the result that we want."

Forge's reputation precedes them.

High-flying in the league and abroad in the CONCACAF League, they do head into Sunday's match having 
lost their last two matches: away at Edmonton and in front of their fans against Cavalry.

So for The Nine Stripes, there's plenty of reasons to feel optimistic as they attempt another historic 
feat: reaching the final of this season's championship. 

Ridwan Ibrahim Asante

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