May 15, 2022...Hightlights: Late Rea screamer claims victor for Valour vs. York United (from canpl.ca website)

  
HIGHLIGHTS: Late Rea screamer claims victory for Valour vs. York United
2022-05-15
by CHARLIE O’CONNOR-CLARKE, DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR (@CHARLIEJCLARKE)

Valour FC recorded their first home win of 2022 on Sunday, as a late goal from CF Montreal loanee 
Sean Rea was enough for them to dispatch York United and claim a 1-0 victory to stretch their 
CPL unbeaten streak to three matches.

With both sides shifting their focus back to the league after midweek fixtures in the Canadian 
Championship, the two managers elected for a degree of consistency. Valour boss Phil Dos Santos 
made just two changes to his lineup, with Jonathan Sirois returning in goal and Andy Baquero 
stepping in at right fullback in place of Brett Levis. York’s Martin Nash, meanwhile, made two 
changes as well, as Eduardo Jesus came in at left wing and Isaiah Johnston returned to midfield.

The first half was naturally cagey, as the two sides tried to figure one another out. Neither 
of the clubs was able to produce much in the way of top-class scoring opportunities, though 
the hosts Valour controlled the lion’s share of possession and sent five shots toward York’s 
goal — but just two of them on target.

Nonetheless, neither team was able to breach the scoresheet in the first half as a formidable 
midfield battle kept the match contentious.

York exploded out of the gates in the second half, though, developing a number of excellent 
chances in the first 15 minutes after the break. In the 55th minute, they thought they’d found 
their moment to put themselves in the front as a set-piece opportunity led to a chance in front 
and, ultimately, a handball from Valour’s Moses Dyer — which prompted the referee to point 
to the spot immediately.

York’s Osaze De Rosario stepped up to take the penalty and put it to his left, but Valour keeper 
Jonathan Sirois made an excellent diving save to rescue his side and keep the score at 0-0.

Still, the away side continued to press even after failing to score the penalty. Valour were 
the first side to turn to the bench, as Dos Santos decided to introduce young midfielders 
Jacob Carlos and Matthew Catavolo just before the 70-minute mark, hoping to put a stop to York’s 
momentum. Not long after, though, Nash matched the changes with some of his own, introducing 
Mamadou Kane and William Wallace to his attack in hopes of producing a winning goal.

However, it would be Valour that found the breakthrough. With just minutes left in the 90, 
Valour managed to claim the ball back and work it into the attacking third, and it was Sean Rea 
who danced through a tight space between defenders near the top of the penalty area and ultimately 
lifted a beautiful shot from distance into the left side of the net to make it 1-0.

York thought they had equalized very shortly after Rea’s goal when a ball fell to William Wallace 
in transition for a solid finish, but the play was ultimately flagged for offside and the visitors 
were left empty-handed.

So, the Winnipeg-based side held on for the win, as Valour recorded their first home victory 
of the season and put themselves in possession of second place in the CPL table while York returned 
home without a goal from their trip to Manitoba.

BOX SCORE

Goals

87' — Sean Rea (Valour FC)

Discipline

40' — Yellow: Moses Dyer (Valour FC)
40' — Yellow: Isaiah Johnston (York United)
41' — Yellow: Lowell Wright (York United)
42' — Yellow: Cédric Toussaint (York United)
51' — Yellow: Mateo Hernández (York United)
56' — Yell0w: Alessandro Riggi (Valour FC)
67' — Yellow: Diego Gutierrez (Valour FC)

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