Final Score: Valour FC 0-0 Halifax Wanderers
Goalscorers: None
Game of the 2023 season: 14
CPL match: 381
Match in a minute or less
Valour FC hosted the Halifax Wanderers at IG Field on Saturday, in what promised to be a tightly-contested matchup for this matchday’s tonybet Match of the Week.
As a result, it was no surprise to see both teams combine for the first 0-0 game of the 2023 CPL season, with both teams unable to split the difference in a hard-fought matchup between two teams that never seem to give up much to the other when they meet.
After a bright start from Valour in the first half, the Wanderers had a good push of their own in the second half, but in the end, both sides were left to share the points as neither could find a winning goal.
Three Observations
Space hard to come by in physical battle:
Heading into this match, one thing was certain – space was going to be hard to come by for both teams in this one.
Two teams that always seem to play each other hard, it promised to be a tightly-contested matchup, one where space was going to be at a premium. Given that both teams had each won three games and drawn one in their last seven meetings in CPL play, with five of those games being decided by one goal, it’s often been hard to split them when they meet.
This game would be no exception to that, either.
Right from minute one, both teams came out strongly, eager to grab control of the match, especially on the physical side of things.
As a result, it made it hard for either side to settle into much of a rhythm, as there were a good number of early duels. Early on, the challenge was simple for both teams – find space at your own risk.
Turns out, that approach would end up paying dividends, for both sides.
For the hosts, Valour, it played nicely into how they wanted to play defensively, as they looked to build on a strong defensive start to this season.
In particular, their goal was to disrupt Halifax’s rhythm in possession, doing so by being very disciplined and organized off the ball, something that they did a great job of doing. Given that the Wanderers had really caused problems for their opponents that way in past games, it was a big positive for Valour, as they became the first team to hold the Wanderers off the scoreboard in a game this season.
“We knew how good they are on the ball and how much they were going to want to come here and control the play, but we’re not a team that lets anybody come here and do that,” Valour centre back, Abdou Samaké, noted.
“From the start of the season, there’s no team that’s going to here and bully us, we’re not a team that’s gonna get bullied, we’re going to be the bully. And we’re going to keep pushing with that mindset, work on our kinks and keep moving forward.”
Plus, they were quite dangerous in transition, too, as Pacifique Niyongabire and Kian Williams were excellent out wide, causing all sorts of problems for the Wanderers’ defenders, although their end product just went missing on a few occasions.
Ultimately, the fact that they left this game with just one point will sting, especially given that they started this match very brightly, but it overall was a good showing from the hosts.
“Halifax had to play an uncharacteristic game for themselves today, a lot of the possession they had was through their backline, we did not allow their midfield to get on the ball in a comfortable way,” Valour head coach, Phil Dos Santos, said afterwards. “So I think that any time you force the opposition to get out of their normal offensive patterns and habits, it means you’re doing something right defensively. So we have to hold on to that, build on that, and make sure we grow in areas where we weren’t as good today.
On the other side, however, the Wanderers also had plenty to be pleased about on their end. They might’ve had an off-day in terms of their possession play, but showed a direct side to their offensive game, doing well to catch Valour stuck up the field a few times.
Combined with a very good defensive performance, as they allowed just seven shots for a total of 0.39 xG from Valour, that made for a pretty solid road game for them.
“We know we’re never going to give up,” Halifax centre back, Cristian Campagna, said of his team’s defensive play. “We’re going to go into every challenge, and I think for us today that was the difference.”
They’ll feel like they could’ve done more to push for all three points, but road points are never a bad thing to pick up, as teams around the league will attest to.
“It’s massive because these are the games that will set you up for our goal, which is to make the playoffs and to be involved in the playoffs,” Halifax head coach, Patrice Gheisar, noted. “I know we’re disappointed, we’d rather win, but with this setback, there’s something for us to take away with us.”
Therefore, while it was a game without goals, it certainly was a good duel, especially defensively. It got a bit physical in the end, finishing with six yellow cards, but that just shows how tightly contested this match ended up being.
Aidan Daniels’s insertion brings life to second half for Halifax:
Through the first half, Valour had the better of the chances, as they did well to catch Halifax by surprise with their approach, doing well to unsettle their rhythm in possession.
As a result, Gheisar was left to do something he doesn’t often do that early in a game – make half time changes, as he turned to Aidan Daniels and Ryan James during the break.
Turns out, it’d be a big move, as the pair really helped the Wanderers grab a bit more control of the game, doing what they weren’t able to do in the first stanza.
In particular, Daniels was a bright spot in the second half, showing why he’s been one of the team’s best performers to begin the season.
Having started on the bench in this game, a byproduct of Gheisar not being afraid to rotate his squad to keep it fresh, Daniels did well to immediately get into the game when he came on. For a creative player like him, that’s not easy, as sometimes it can take a while to find one’s legs when coming off the bench.
Through that, Daniels gave his side a few opportunities to find the lead. From a great cross to Zachary Fernandez that was just saved, to a creative ball that found James all alone behind the defence to force another great save, Daniels was his usual creative self in possession.
Then, he nearly capped it all off with a perfect moment, as he perfectly struck a free kick from 25 yards, only finding himself robbed by a fantastic save from Valour’s Rayane Yesli, who picked a good time to make his best save of the day.
Therefore, even if Daniels wasn’t able to help the Wanderers get a win over the line, Gheisar will have lots to be pleased about with his #10, who continues to be dangerous every time he’s on the pitch for his team, knowing how to hurt teams in different ways.
“Aidan brought ball retention, he brought a bit of flair and a desire to just play,” Gheisar said of Daniels. “We’re a possession-based team, and he’s such an important part of that for us, the way he plays between lines.”
“Aidan’s is a quality player,” Campagna added. “You can see he understands space, he understands how to drag in players and really manipulate them, so him coming on really brought us a spark, as well as that calmness he brings on the pitch.”
Dante Campbell headlines strong Valour defensive performance:
Always a solid team defensively, Valour has taken that a step further so far this season, having kept two clean sheets through four games, conceding just two goals total.
A big reason why? The improvements they’ve recently made to their midfield, as while they’ve always had some solid options at the back, they’ve been a bit unstable in midfield over the last few years.
Now, however, that’s changed. April’s CPL player of the month, Diego Gutiérrez, has been excellent to start this year, while Raphael Ohin and Juan Pablo Sánchez have also been solid in the middle.
Yet, there’s been one player who’s really helped change the complexion of that group, and that’s Dante Campbell, who has been a revelation at the defensive midfield position this season.
A former Valour loanee from the 2020 season, the Toronto FC academy graduate has been a big boost to this team so far this season, filling a crucial need for them in the middle of the park.
Strong on the ball, he’s been even better off it, always eager to get stuck in and sacrifice his body for his team, providing a key shield for his defenders.
That was key in this game, as despite going up against a dangerous Halifax midfield, Campbell was up for the fight, putting in a big defensive shift for his team.
“He was incredible today, he was absolutely stellar,” Samaké, said of Campbell. “The way he was aggressive, on the front foot, always anticipating and reading the play, it makes it so much easier for us. We want to be a team that’s on the front foot, we want to keep our lines high, we want to be aggressive, we don’t want to let teams play and to do that, you need midfielders who are willing to go into tackles and win those first balls and I think our midfield was excellent at that today.”
Yet, that’s just been what he’s done all season, providing a big boost to Valour’s overall defence. Considering that they’ve struggled for injuries across their back line through four games, having that stability that Campbell provides has gone a long way for them, helping them find that bit of consistency defensively.
Because of that, look for him to continue growing into this role for his new club, helping them maintain this side of their game.
They’ll feel that they still need to take a step forward offensively, but as a famous person once said, defence wins championships, highlighting the importance of Campbell’s play.
“Dante was extremely solid today,” Dos Santos said afterwards of Campbell.
He added: “How we approached our pressure (in the middle) was very good in this game.”
CanPL.ca Player of the Match
Dante Campbell, Valour FC
Campbell was a force defensively in midfield for Valour in this game, finishing with four successful tackles, one clearance, three interceptions, 10 recoveries, while drawing six fouls and winning 13 of his 20 duels.
Safe to say, he certainly earned himself an ice bath after this one, given how much he put his body on the line across 90 minutes.
What’s next?
Valour are back in action on Saturday, May 13th, as they travel to Hamilton to take on Forge at Tim Horton’s Field (3:00 p.m. CT/4:00 p.m. ET). Meanwhile, the Wanderers will head to Alberta to take on Cavalry later that same day at ATCO Field (5:00 p.m. MT/8:00 p.m. AT).
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