May 15, 2022...Preview: Nine Stripes Look to Stretch Winning Streak as Road Trip Continues in Winnipeg (from York United FC website)

May 15, 2022...Preview: Nine Stripes Look to Stretch Winning Streak as Road Trip Continues in Winnipeg
(from York United FC website)

PREVIEW: NINE STRIPES LOOK TO STRETCH WINNING STREAK AS ROAD TRIP CONTINUES IN WINNIPEG

Martin Nash's side are seeking a third league victory of the campaign.

The Nine Stripes will nick a third consecutive win in all competitions if they can scale over
the Valour FC hurdle in Winnipeg later today.

In the Canadian Premier League, they're on a four-match unbeaten run and with a record of 2-2-1,
they lie in second place on the log sheet after amassing eight points.

Martin Nash and his lads were resolute in midweek and had to dispatch Atletico Ottawa
in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout victory (7-6) to progress in the Canadian Championship.

In that clash, The Gaffer proved he had a lot of tactical ideas in his toolkit as he sprung
a surprise by playing three at the back, massing bodies in midfield and deploying
a two-pronged attack as Osaze De Rosario was paired with Lowell Wright.

Nash remains unpredictable, difficult for his opposite numbers to read him as his choices have varied.

It could be a trident of Jordan Wilson, Noah Verhoeven and Isaiah Johnston or a trio
of Cederic Toussaint and Verhoeven and Sebastian Gutierrez in midfield.

"Right now, it’s the structure we want to build from," Nash told reporters on Friday.

"We've kind of kept them under wraps a little bit, maybe more than I'd like right now just
to have stability but it also allows our fullbacks to join the attack more and it's been working well.
We’re gonna slowly add layers as the season goes, but I think we’re in a good place right now
and we have a good structure to build from.''

Captain Roger Thompson, who has missed the last two matches, has returned to training and could
be in line for some action at IG Field.

But Austin Ricci is certainly out. A second-half substitute in the cup match at TD Place Stadium
on Tuesday night, the attacker had to be replaced just before the final whistle after picking
up an injury.

He joins Max Ferrari, Oliver Minatel and Michael Petrasso in the club's infirmary.

Still, Nash is yet to unleash Argentine-import Lisandro Cabrera who arrived last week. The striker,
who waited patiently on various administrative delays, could make the match-day squad for
the first time and possibly his debut.

Ahead of the Valour fixture, Nash spoke about Cabrera and his compatriot - midfielder Mateo Hernandez,
who put in a typified performance on his return from a four-game ban in Ottawa.

"It's nice to have Lisandro and finally he can get acclimatized to the group," Nash said.

"We've had our fair share of injuries and guys are going to be in and out all year. We don't have
massive squads in this league so we're gonna need the whole squad going forward and find out how
and where we can use everyone. So Mateo [Hernandez] is a great tool to have as he can play a number
of positions so I'm really looking forward to see how he develops over the season and the different
roles he's able to play."

OPPONENT WATCH:

Valour FC drew in their home opener (0-0) with Halifax Wanderers at IG Field last week.

Head coach Phil Dos Santos is sweating on fitness levels of defenders Jonathan Esparza and Brett Levis.

But William Akio and Federico Pena are fit and venomous.

Ibrahim Ridwan Asante

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