Valour FC picked up a crucial three points on Sunday after beating Pacific FC 1-0 at IG Field.
The win moves the Winnipeggers within five points of the fourth-place Tridents for a coveted playoff spot, something Valour is yet to achieve in the CPL’s short history thus far.
After catching the ball from a corner kick a few minutes into the match, Pacific goalkeeper Callum Irving launched a counter-attack for his side’s first good chance of the match a few minutes in. His long ball down the pitch was met by Marco Bustos, who rushed at the two-person Valour backline.
Bustos twisted and turned but couldn’t open up a big enough space for himself to get a good shot away, with his effort being blocked. As Valour defenders rushed back into position, debutant Jordan Brown collected the rebound and took a shot himself, but that was also blocked and went out for a corner, but The Tridents weren’t able to take advantage of it.
That would be arguably the best chance in a first half that didn’t produce many for either side. Matteo de Brienne and Brett Levis both forced saves out of Irving, but the Pacific shot-stopper was solid as always.
Valour centre-back Nassim Mekideche attempted an audacious bicycle kick from the edge of the penalty area following a free kick in the 40th minute, but couldn’t keep the ball down and it went high and wide for a goal kick. Diego Gutierrez also had a look at goal from a free kick in stoppage time, but it too went wide of the target — and the first half would end 0-0.
Moses Dyer, Valour’s leading scorer, ran in behind the Pacific backline just after the hour mark but had his shot on goal blocked away for a corner by Irving. From the ensuing corner, Valour finally found the goal that had been eluding them to that point.
After Amer Didic failed to clear away the cross into the box, the ball fell to Rocco Romeo, and the Valour defender made no mistake, thumping a crucial goal into the back of the net.
Set piece magic?
And a HUGE goal for @ValourFootball as Rocco Romeo puts them up 1-0 against @Pacificfccpl
?: @onesoccer
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) August 28, 2022
Romeo nearly doubled the lead with a header from the exact same play, but Irving made a big stop to deny the effort from the Valour defender. He had a second opportunity, but his follow-up shot was turned away as well. Sean Rea came close to extending Valour’s advantage as well with a shot from distance, but it sailed just above Irving’s goal.
That would be the closest Valour would come to finding the back of the net a second time, as they opted to sit back and defend for the final few minutes of the match. With all eleven players behind the ball at times in the final five minutes or so, they closed out an important win against the reigning North Star Shield winners.
With the victory, Valour is now just five points behind Pacific FC for the fourth and final playoff spot. With seven matches left in each team’s season, there is still time for the Winnipeggers to close the gap and get into the playoffs for the first time in their history, but it won’t be easy. Valour will play Forge FC twice in the next week, a pair of matches that are absolutely crucial to their season.
BOX SCORE
Goals
62′ — Rocco Romeo (Valour FC)
Discipline
26′ — Yellow: Djenairo Daniels (Pacific FC)
43′ — Yellow: Sean Rea (Valour FC)
50′ — Yellow: Matteo de Brienne (Valour FC)
56′ — Yellow: Moses Dyer (Valour FC)